Here's a really easy way to contribute to a cure for breast cancer - without spending a dime. All you need to do is spend a little time (just a little, I promise).

The Ask.com Search for the Cure program, available on the Ask.com homepage, is a first-of-its-kind donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The initiative makes it easy, educational, and free for consumers to support the fight against breast cancer. Ask.com is featuring new homepage themes, called skins, which are designed to educate consumers about breast cancer and inspire support for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The skins display a weekly series of questions that challenge consumers’ knowledge of breast health and breast cancer issues.

From September 13, 2009 through December 31, 2009, Ask.com will donate up to $100,000 in conjunction with consumers who participate in the Search for the Cure program by adopting the special homepage skin and answering breast health questions. Ask.com has pledged to invest at least $1 million by December 31, 2010 through this program and sponsorship of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® series.

It's a great way to test your knowledge, learn something new and contribute to a good cause, all at the same time.

By the way, I attended my first Race for the Cure 5K walk/run last month in Central Park. I went not as a participant (although I'm seriously considering it for next year), but as a spectator (that's my older son, Jonathan, who ran again this year in my honor). It was fabulous! I was blown away by the size of the crowd and the support this huge grassroots organization is getting. Being a survivor never felt better than watching how many survivors were running that day and in enviable shape.

So, what's next? Maybe I need to start serious training to get ready for next year. Kristen, our blogger over at Wellness in Practice, recently ran a half-marathon (now, that's serious running) and wrote about how she prepared herself for her first race. If you have any of your own personal tips, I'm all ears!