Charlotte's Crusaders help wage the war against breast cancer

NORFOLK, Neb. -- Charlotte's Crusaders has been collecting donations to reach their goal to give to the Carson Cancer Center in Norfolk.

Their founder, Charlotte Easland, was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year and would not let the c-word define her.

Upon receiving her own treatments, Easland said she saw how other didn't have the support they needed and decided to make an impact by raising money for a program within the center.

"The foundation at the hospital has come up with 'The Hope Fund,' they call it, and they take donations and basically help out patients who come there for treatments," Easland said. "So it's whatever they feel that the patient would need, they even give away debit cards to be able to get prescriptions once they leave there."

Easland was diagnosed with breast cancer in October and said she felt as if her world was over, but after processing it all, she realized that she is a survivor and decided to keep moving on with her life, driving her urge to help others.

"I love doing that, I love supporting the community," Easland said. "I just woke up one morning after being diagnosed and I said this isn't going to define me, and I have to make something good come out of it."

The Crusaders have been selling t-shirts for $20 a piece with all proceeds, minus the cost to make the shorts, going to the Carson Cancer Center.

With a goal of $10,000, donations have hit the $3,000 mark from shirt sales.

On Thursday, the Crusaders will host a hot dog feed fundraiser in hopes of boosting donations past the halfway mark.

Easland said she will continue in her crusade to gather donations and help those going through the same battle she fights everyday.