Charleston / West Virginia / United States
About Komen Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the worlds 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. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. West Virginia Affiliate History Its amazing what a few friends who have shared similar life experiences can do! The WV Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen foundation was founded just that way. Personal experience with a deadly disease, whether it is your mother, daughter, sister or friend, clearly establishes need and desire to eliminate the pain. As a group ( mildly coerced by one ) we worked together to bring this entity to West Virginia. After months of fact-finding, statistic gathering, tears and laughter we were able to pull this together. The WV Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen foundation was a mere conversation of what if in the summer of 2000. The foundation became a reality in January of 2001 with the help of a Ford/BMW dealer and six passionate people the journey started. The founding board members were Kathleen Walker, Mylissa Spradling, Beth Elmore, Shelley Capito, Cecilia Baker and Cindy Heiskell. West Virginia presents many geographic and economic challenges in the fight against breast cancer. We hope to be a major part of eradicating it from this earth. Through education, screening, treatment and research we can do just that!
