Warriors in Pink to Lead Komen Survivors at 2010 Race
S. Fla. Warriors Named; Represent Spirit, Courage in Cancer Battle
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., (January 5, 2009) – The South Florida Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® named eight Warriors in Pink, who represent the courage and spirit of breast cancer survivors in the battle to eradicate the disease. The Warriors in Pink will lead thousands of survivors who approach the stage to be recognized during the Survivor Ceremony at the 19th annual 2010 Susan G. Komen South Florida Race for the Cure®.
The Race, set for January 30, is the largest fundraiser for the Komen South Florida Affiliate and has the distinction of being the first race of the year among all Affiliates. The Komen South Florida Race for the Cure is now accepting Sponsorship Applications and Race Registration for participants. The Affiliate serves Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties.
The Warriors in Pink are:
Nancy Brinker of Palm Beach founded Susan G. Komen for the Cure in 1982 after promising her dying sister she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer for ever. Ambassador Brinker is considered the leader of the global breast cancer movement for her role in Komen, now the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists
fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science
to find the cures.
F. Bud Gardner, 59, is a male breast cancer survivor, whose doctor found a breast lump while checking a suspicious mole. After his diagnosis in 2005, Gardner began arranging golf tournaments to raise awareness that men aren’t immune to the disease. The managing partner and founder of Franklin Associates, Gardner has donated tournament proceeds to Komen and the American Cancer Society. Gardner lives with his wife, Linda, in Port St. Lucie.
Susan Kristoff, 47, who was diagnosed in 2003, has worked with Komen for several years and is on the Speakers Bureau and Advocacy Alliance. “I hope to make the path easier for those who have to follow in my footsteps,” she said. “So much needs to be done and with the power of Komen, things are changing. I like thinking I’m a small part of that.” Komen has been an important organization for her and other survivors, Kristoff said, explaining it has helped her to justify what she’s gone through. Kristoff, who lives in West Palm Beach, has a college-aged son.
Margaret Oathout, 74, is a 12-year survivor who lives in Boynton Beach. Oathout, who retired from the New York state Office of Developmental Disabilities after 22 years of service, has volunteered with Komen for a decade, joining the Race for the first time in 2000 and designing the team contact system in 2001. She has served in various capacities, including as Team Chair, Boynton Beach Mall Race Registration Site Chair, and Individual Registration Chair. “It’s important to stress my incident was post menopausal.” With growing emphasis on detection and treatment for younger women, “It creates an impression among older women that they are somehow exempt,” she said.
Marie Seide, 48, of Boca Raton had a bilateral mastectomy in 2006 at the same time her mother was dying with cancer. She has since spent her time bringing awareness of breast cancer to women in the Haitian community. Seide, who is a real estate broker and the mother of three grown daughters, is helping her community to get free mammograms and to get grants through Komen for surgery and treatment once they are diagnosed. “Some of them have not had a chance to get a mammogram until they’re 50 or 60 years old. Now they know they have to get it done every year,” Seide said.
Stephanie Siegel of Boca Raton is Honorary Chairwoman of the 2010 Race and a member of the Komen Advocacy Alliance Board in Washington, D.C. Siegel represents the global expansion of the organization’s reach. It was Siegel’s and husband Ned’s vision that brought Komen to The Bahamas. The couple worked side-by-side in The Bahamas during Ned’s tenure as U.S. Ambassador as Stephanie Siegel shared her own battle with the country where nearly 50 percent of women under 50 are diagnosed with the disease. The Siegels have three children.
Liz Yavinsky, 39, of West Palm Beach was diagnosed with stage 3 bilateral breast cancer in August 2008. She walked the last Race after forming a race team for survivors under 40, called Palm Beach County Young Survivors. She’s participated in about four Races and plans to run the 2010 Race. Yavinsky, who has worked as a nurse practitioner, and husband Marc have four young children.
Shari Zipp, a 43-year-old resident of Wellington, is marking five years as a breast cancer survivor this year. She is the fourth generation of her family who has had breast cancer – and her mother is a 41-year survivor. Zipp, who has participated in Races for 15 years has been very active as a cancer survivor and has coached many people along the way. Her advice: “Never give up, hold your head up and think positive.” She and husband, Dr. Jeffrey Zipp, have one son.
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