| JettyGirl:
While faltering economies, political turmoil and
energy issues dominated most of the headlines
during the past year, much of 2008's good news
slipped through the cracks. What's the best thing
that happened to you in 2008 and what are you
most hopeful for in 2009?
Shaney Jo Darden:
Actually for 2008 it's hard to say what was the
BEST thing that happened to me, so many good things.
I found out my brother's wife is having a baby.
It's the first time I get to be an Aunt and I'm
so excited. Keep A Breast turned 8 this year!
For me this was a huge accomplishment. I'm so
happy that I have stuck with it for so long, doing
everything myself for so many years and working
full time jobs up until last year. Keep A Breast
has really given my life so much purpose and joy,
from the little things like getting so excited
when our new tee designs come out good, or we
get a good piece of press to the big things like
getting letters from teenagers all over the world
thanking us for helping them through a loved one's
cancer, or thanking us for being at the Warped
Tour and teaching them how to do self breast exams
because after they met us they found a lump in
their breasts and never would have without meeting
us.
For 2009 I'm most hopeful
if everything can just remain status quo. We have
launched a bunch of new things like Keep A Breast
Europe, Keep A Breast Canada, new website with
social networking aspect, and a new Team of girls
that have supported Keep A Breast for so many
years including Lisa Andersen, Kassia Meador,
Julie Cox, Shea Hodges, Jen O'Brien, Chanelle
Sladics, Ashley Lloyd, Megan Abubo and more to
come soon. I look forward to bringing Keep A Breast
to Japan this year! And just working hard to personally
be super healthy and to practice what I preach!
JG: Tell us about the first
time you ever stood up on a surfboard. Where was
it and what were you riding?
SJD: Last year was
the first time I ever really surfed on a real
surfboard. For many years I've been so lucky to
work with Roxy and travel and go to all these
amazing surf spots with Keep A Breast. I finally
kicked myself in the head and told myself it's
time to learn. I got myself a custom Emerald longboard
from the Jule Collection line of boards. My boyfriend
Jeff took me out to Wisconsin Street in Oceanside.
He really was so sweet and patient with me and
got me to stand up! I was really excited and to
see him happy and proud of me was a really cool
feeling. Since them Julie Cox has given me a few
lessons. I'm a little scared of drowning so I
need to practice my swimming skills.
JG: What is your current
favorite board? In 2009 do you have any plans
to experiment with different surfboard designs,
materials or fin configurations?
SJD: I only have
one board which is my Jule Collection Emerald.
This year I hope to experiment on other types
of boards as well. Hopefully the KAB team will
take me out a bit more this summer, and teach
me some stuff. Mainly just get me out in the water
to enjoy our beautiful days.
JG: Do you have any heroes?
If so, who and why?
SJD: My mom. Nancy
jo Darden. always my hero. Her mantra in life
is "come from love." I try to follow
that as much as I can. She is an amazing example
of beauty, bravery and creativity. Mostly I think
it's her bravery that gives me my drive. She always
told me growing up that I could do anything I
wanted and to never let anyone stop me or tell
me that I couldn't. She just turned 62 and she
is so healthy and happy and living her life to
the fullest everyday!
JG: In 2009 we'll see the
best single maneuver ever done by a female surfer.
Who do you think will pull the move and what do
you think it will be?
SJD: This is a tough
one for me, since I'm a super beginning surfer.
I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that Jen
Smith is going to do a pirouette to backflip to
scorpion.
For those of you who like to
jump around instead of going one by one, here's
the complete list of surfers...
Image
Caption: Art, Education, Awareness, Action. As
the leader of the Keep A Breast Foundation, Shaney
Jo Darden has reached out to young women around
the world, bringing an artistic flair to the serious
topic of breast cancer awareness and education.
Visit Keep A Breast online and get involved: www.keep-a-breast.org
Photos: Desiree Dawn Kuhn (top left), Lorene Carpentier
(top right), Keep a Breast files (bottom two)
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