It's the Cinderella story of fundraisers. With the help of fellow Delta Air Line flight attendants, Pauline Alighieri, set out to raise $5,000 in memory of her good friend and colleague who lost her battle with breast cancer. Three years and $3.5 million later, Pauline is the founder and CEO of a successful non-profit organization, the Friends of Mel Foundation. The foundation continues to honor the life of Mel Simmons by raising money for cancer care, education and research through the sale of colorful, glass-beaded bracelets also known as, Mel's Bracelets, now worn by hundreds of thousands women across the nation. "I never could have dreamed that Mel's Bracelets would bring so many people together and encourage the strong circles of friendship that it has," says Pauline. "I am just carrying out Mel's unfinished business."

Who was Mel?

Mel Simmons was a devoted single mother of two, a much beloved friend of many, a flight attendant, and a breast cancer patient. To lift Mel's spirits while she as being treated for cancer, her fellow flight attendants would bring her dozens of colorful beaded bracelets from overseas. Mel would promptly share them with fellow patients and the medical staff on her oncology floor. Dozens would wear the beaded bracelets to show their solidarity in the fight against cancer. In 2005 Mel lost her battle to the disease and Pauline Alighieri picked up right where she left off, by importing bracelets, passing them out in Mel's memory, and raising money for cancer research.

The mission caught on. Soon people were asking for "Mel's Bracelets" and less than a year later, The Friends of Mel Foundation was born. Today more than 200,000 women and men are wearing Mel's Bracelets as a tangible, daily sign that they are banded together in love and solidarity with their friends. These friendship circles are affecting change; by raising money for cancer research, education, and support, the friends are wearing the bracelets with the hope that they will never have to lose a friend or loved one to cancer. In less than three years, Mel's Bracelets have raised more than $3.5 million dollars, donating more than 1 million alone to reputable hospitals such as Massachusetts General Hospital's Cancer Center. In fact, funds donated by the Friends of Mel Foundation are responsible for cutting edge research and innovative programs, the details of which are available upon request