Lori Allen from Say Yes to the Dress on TLC battling breast cancer; 'naturally I was devastated when I found out,' she says.

Lori Allen from Say Yes to the Dress on TLC (DStv 186 / TopTV 453) is battling breast cancer and will be sharing her harrowing journey with TLC viewers.

Lori Allen who visited South African in October 2011 during the launch of the TLC channel on MultiChoice's DStv and Discovery's upfront presentation for 2012, discovered on 13 April this year that she had breast cancer.

According to a statement in which Lori Allen reveals her breast cancer and fight against the disease, TLC is readying a TV special, Say Yes to the Cure: Lori's Fight which will be shown at the end of October in America. No broadcasting date for South Africa is known yet.

The special will be "a deeply personal chronicle of Lori's struggle, fight and resolve to beat breast cancer," says the TLC statement. "TLC follows Lori on her journey as she leaves the bridal shop she built, into surgery, and through recovery. How will the shop carry on without the heart and soul of Bridals by Lori? Monte, Robin, Flo and the rest of the staff pull together to keep the shop running, and help brides in her absence."

"Naturally I was devastated when I found out that I had breast cancer," says Lori Allen in the statement. "Wanting to turn something very negative into something positive, I decided to share my journey with my TLC family and others, in hopes that I can raise breast cancer awareness and perhaps help other woman facing breact cancer be less afraid. Breast cancer is a personal journey, and throughout this process some days were easier than others, but I survived with faith, family and friends."

"Lori is a beloved member of our TLC family and our hearts have been with her throughout this difficult journey," says Amy Winter, the general manager of TLC. "She is a remarkable woman, who has handled this with dignity, grace and signature spunk since day one of her diagnosis. This special is about spreading awareness to our viewers, but most importantly it's about sharing Lori's story of strength, hope and perseverance."

BREAKING. The TLC launch party of the channel joining DStv, lures the brilliant bridal boss Lori Allen all the way from Atlanta to South Africa.

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With her wonderful Southern accent, grace, friendliness and personality that simply lit up the entire room, Lori Allen - all the way from Atlanta - surprised the press, guests, advertisers, ad buyers and South African TV executives when she appeared as the star guest, draped in shimmering red, at the TLC launch party earlier this evening.

TLC (DStv 186) will be joining MultiChoice's DStv platform from this Friday, 14 October.

Lori Allen is a firm fixture on TLC with her popular show Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids and she agreed to travel very far to come and help launch TLC on DStv. I asked her to pose for a photo, here with Lee Hobbs, channel director for emerging business at Discovery Networks for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA). Even though they were busy with their own conversation, they immediately, graciously agreed to walk  few steps with me.

I arrived and Discovery Networks CEEMEA Upfront 2012 event earlier this evening and in less than 5 minutes the gracious, warm and hilarious Lori Allen found me, introduced herself, and started a genuine, real and very enjoyable conversation.

Even though suddenly at the tip of Africa Lori Allen was completely at ease, told me she's looking forward to a quick safari later this week, and also introduced me to her husband who tagged along for this trip (we talked cable and satellites). She asked about South Africa's beaches. I thanked her for making the effort to come so far - despite rumours from the dark continent about elephants in the streets which is not true, and she laughed and said ''So I'm discovering!''

Lori Allen's salon is the largest full-service bridal salon in America, and it's located in Sandy Springs, Atlanta. Her salon features prominenty in Say Yes to the Dress. It's clear that Lori Allen deals with crazy brides because at the TLC launch party she was completely calm, and it must have been a mere 1 on her stress scale of 1 to 10.

Lori Allen asked me if I've watched a lot of TLC. I had to be honest and told her not that much but that I do keep my eye on it. Especially that mom with the many kiddies.

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