"To know her is to love her."

My dear friend, Gayle (Kari's sister), said it best, "Anyway, to know her is to love her..." I cannot imagine a single person who could disagree with that statement.

On May 15, 2007, after a long but uplifting day of cancer advocacy training in Washington, D.C., for LIVESTRONG Day® (which was Wednesday, May 16, 2007), I read my email. There was a message from Gayle. It said, in part, "I just wanted to let you know that my fantastic and awesome sister, Kari, has finished her fight with cancer. I will miss her so very much." Indeed, everyone will miss her.

I thought about Kari and her family a lot on LIVESTRONG® Day. And it couldn't have brought the "mission" of our efforts into sharper focus. I was part of an advocacy group from all over the country fighting for all stages in the battle through and against cancer: Education, screening and treatment FOR EVERYBODY WHO NEEDS IT, as well as survivorship care, and, if the battle reaches an untimely conclusion, end-of-life care.

Thank you so much, Kari, for being such an inspiration in life and even beyond. Your legacy will continue to motivate and encourage people with your radiant and extraordinary spirit.

If you'd like to read more, please refer to the following:

• Kari's obituary in The Deseret News and The Salt Lake Tribune (still available online here and here with online guestbooks for a limited time).


• Kari's obituary from The Daily Herald (online here with guestbook).


• Kari's obituary on Senicare.com (online here with a guestbook).


• Please visit The Kari Mason Fund website:

  Kari was a unique individual with a sparkling personality and a selflessness that somehow intensified as her pain increased and her physical condition deteriorated.

  In lieu of flowers, Kari's family would appreciate donations through this site to help pay medical expenses and support the future needs of her miracle daughter, Ellie.


• When you visit The Kari Mason Fund, please follow the link from "Her story" to a wonderful article about Kari and her family, "Live Like You Were Dying," featured in Wasatch Woman.