Alexis Fulton designates a sizeable space on one of her bedroom walls for a poster that inspires her every day.

The poster shows her mom Theresa, adorned in a bright pink shirt and a light pink ball cap, beaming with joy at a Weekend to End Women's Cancers fundraiser.

Theresa, mom to Alexis and Jason, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 and lost her battle with the disease six years ago.

Alexis is determined to finding a cure for breast cancer in honour of her mom. She has put her entrepreneurial skills to work, making cards and braiding bracelets to help raise funds to support breast cancer research taking place at the BC Cancer Agency.

"I support research for a cure so no more children have to lose their mothers to breast cancer. If you even donate a little bit, every dollar can make a difference," said Alexis, who donated proceeds of her bracelet sales to the BC Cancer Foundation.

Alexis remembers her mom as a very enthusiastic person with "a lot of faith."

"I'd consider her as outgoing," Alexis said. "She had a good sense of humour, and lots of friends."

Theresa was diagnosed when Alexis was a year old and Jason was five. She battled the disease to the end. Not long after her diagnosis, Theresa underwent a mastectomy.c

Years later, Alexis is keeping her mom's memory alive through her fundraising efforts.

Now 11, Alexis is a Grade 6 student at Whonnock Elementary and along with her brother lives with co-guardians Ron and Kathy Stubley.

Theresa spent her final days living with her children at the Stubley residence.

"She lived here for the last months before she died," said Stubley, who described Theresa's passing as "extremely sad."

"She was determined to live," Kathy said. "She did every single possible treatment and just finally ran out of options."

To help find a cure for the disease that took her mother, Alexis has been hard at work creating more than 100 bracelets out of twine and embroidery thread.

She sold the bracelets and the homemade greeting cards to family and friends. In a letter dated Sept. 16, Alexis informed the BC Cancer Agency that, through the sale of the bracelets and her aunt's family quilt project, she collected "$184 exactly" to the cause.

"I would like to donate it to breast cancer research because when I was one my mom found out she had breast cancer, then when I was six she died," Alexis wrote. "She participated in the first three Weekend Walks to end Breast Cancer."

While major advancements have been made in prevention, early detection and treatment, breast cancer still affects 3,200 B.C.ers each year.

October marks breast cancer awareness month and BC Cancer Foundation president and CEO Douglas Nelson said Alexis is making a difference.

"Her mother's story is a powerful reminder of the work yet to be done and Alexis' hard work and donation are an inspiration to all of us to get that work done," Nelson said.

Anyone who would like to purchase bracelets and greeting cards, or would like to donate to Alexis's cause, can email kathy_ stubley@shaw.ca.

Thousands will gather with the foundation on April 13, at Bust a Move for Breast Health, a fundraiser featuring six hours of fitness sessions to improve outcomes for patients diagnosed with this disease.

tlandreville@mrtimes.com