BREAST CANCER: WHY IT’S MORE THAN A PINK RIBBON TO ME

In October 2001, I had a life-altering experience ...

My mom was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. There are only 4 stages. Who knew when I was working on my science fair project on cancer in junior high school that it would touch my life so personally? I remember going to the oncology center with her when she got the diagnosis. I was devastated. What did that mean? Was I going to lose my mom? That was something I was not ready to process. It wasn’t my first exposure to breast cancer for someone close to me. Many years earlier, my godmother, Melody, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thankfully, she survived. But that was my godmother, this was MY MOM.

This totally threw me for a loop. How could that be? Why my Mom? Her treatment began with chemotherapy. Luckily, she responded very well, and her tumor shrank significantly. But she still had to have surgery, a lumpectomy, to remove the tumor. During her surgery, they realized the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes under her arm and so they those nodes had to be removed. After recovering from surgery, she received more chemotherapy. After chemotherapy, she received radiation. My colleagues were so supportive throughout.

I learned so much from my Mom during her treatment. She took on breast cancer like it was her enemy. She fought for her life and refused to allow breast cancer to kill her. She went to work every day, traveled, and went about life as usual. Within days of her surgery, she hosted her annual Christmas party and dressed up like Santa Claus. She was determined to live.

I wasn’t so brave. I could not face going with her to chemotherapy. My son, Jordan would go. When I visited her at home, I wouldn’t enter the house. I talked to her standing out in the driveway. She had lost weight, her hair, and her eyebrows. I didn’t recognize her. That person was not my mom. I couldn’t handle it. Jordan, though, he was a trooper. He was her savior. When she got cancer, she said she had to stay alive because of him. He helped her do that. Thank God for his strength and love.

That period was like I was living someone else’s life. It was so hard to watch her go through that. I think I lived in denial for much of that time.

Before 2001, like many other people breast cancer was symbolized by a pink ribbon. But after that dreadful day, the symbol for breast cancer for me was my Mom. I am so blessed and ecstatic that my mom, godmother, and aunt are all survivors and doing very well! They kicked cancer’s ass! F*ck Cancer!

My Mom’s determination and fight caused me to no longer be a bystander wearing my pink ribbon in October but become an active advocate for women like my Mom.  I don’t have a medical education, but I am an excellent advocate, and I can plan events like no other. I decided to start a non-profit organization, The Pink Ribbon Runway, and use my talents to plan events to raise awareness and funds for finding a cure for breast cancer.

The Pink Ribbon Runway was my way of doing my part to find a cure for this dreadful disease. I didn’t want anyone else to endure what I, my sister, dad, and other family members had to go through.

These statements were part of my 501(c)3 application for my non-profit organization, The Pink Ribbon Runway. It was my way to honor my mom and do my part to find a cure for breast cancer. I didn’t recall writing this. I’m specifically referring to my promise to “no longer be a bystander but become an active advocate.” That is exactly what I speak about today. I know that being an active advocate is ingrained in my DNA but to see it come full circle hit me. I have looked at my application once or twice since I submitted it in 2007, but often to just help someone else with their application. I had not spent time really reading the words. This hit me.

I am who I say I am. I’ve been who I’ve always been.

This personal touch by this awful disease caused me to be an avid supporter of not just raising awareness but trying to find a cure thought my non-profit, The Pink Ribbon Runway. I planned and hosted fundraisers that raised thousands of dollars for Susan G. Komen and the Georgia Cancer foundation. My mom and I recorded a PSA for breast cancer awareness which was aired on the radio. I served as a board member for Susan G. Komen Miami/Fort Lauderdale. I raised money by walking 60 miles in 3 days. I received the community service award for my non-profit work for breast cancer when I competed in the Mrs. Georgia pageant. I regularly donate money to breast cancer organizations.

Breast cancer is not just the month of October for me. The pink ribbon is my daily existence.

About the Author

Kelly Charles-Collins is an American employment law attorney, award-winning TEDx speaker, and the CEO of HR Legally Speaking, LLC, a professional speaking, training, coaching and consulting firm. An Unconscious Bias, Bystander Intervention, and Workplace Investigations expert, Kelly empowers smart organizations and leaders to stay on the right side of the next #hashtag movement. Kelly is the founder of Ladies Who Leverage, a global community for high-achieving women. Learn more at www.LadiesWhoLeverage.com or www.TeamLWL.com. She is also the author of ACE Your Workplace Investigations: A Step-by-Step Guide for Avoiding Friction, Covering Your Assets, and Earning Employee Trust, SPEAK: Silence is Not an Option!, and Conversations Change Things: The “PER”fect Framework for Courageous Conversations. Learn more at www.KellyCharlesCollins.com.