The Power Of A Promise
By Kathy Kasperik
When I last wrote to you, I talked to you about my dear Aunt Ellie, who passed away eight years ago from breast cancer. From the time she was diagnosed until she was gone, I kept promising myself that I would walk in another Race For The Cure other than the one I attend every year in Pittsburgh. I, of course, wanted to walk in New Jersey, and I wanted my aunt to be there with me. New Jersey after all is where my aunt was born and raised, had all her treatments, and where she eventually breathed her last. But as the years went on, the timing was never right. Other plans interfered. There was always a scheduling conflict. And then she was gone. So finally, only a few days after the anniversary of her death, on October 29, 2006, nine of my family members joined me in Princeton to walk for Aunt Ellie. It was extremely windy and very muddy because there had been torrential downpours for two days. And it was bittersweet. Yet as we braved the cold and journeyed those three miles, we smiled. We remembered our Miss Ellie as we watched the sea of pink shirts and hats - the clothing that says “I’m A Survivor”. And we know she was smiling back through the rays of sunshine that seemed to appear magically through the gusts. I finally kept this promise to myself, and my family kept theirs to me. And it was another emotional promise that started the foundation on which our Races are based.
The Susan G. Komen For The Cure® foundation was started all because of a promise between two sisters. When Susan Komen was dying at age 34 from breast cancer, she made her sister promise to make things better for others. She wanted us to talk about ‘it’. She wanted women to have nicer treatment rooms. She wanted women to know that research was being done. And most of all she wanted someone else to be saved even if she could not. And Nancy Brinker acted. And it has been 25 years since that promise was uttered. You may note now that the name of the foundation has changed. When you visit www.komen.org, you will see on the website that they have a new logo. You may note the layout has also been updated. But the goal is still the same. Their mission is as follows: “To save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.” Their core values are listed as: “Inclusion to embrace the uniqueness of every individual; Stewardship to be accountable for our performance, individually and collectively; Honesty to foster a community of trust and integrity; Openness to seek out new ideas and new ways of thinking; Passion to demonstrate personal commitment to our Promise; and Empowerment to entrust others and hold yourself accountable.” The power of a promise. The power of people. The power of Thinking Pink.
There are now Affiliates in 125 cities and comm-unities, most notably the local affiliate in Pittsburgh. The Race For The Cure events are now held by the thousands across America and even overseas. Your Pittsburgh affiliate also reaches an anniversary this year, number 15. Their Race event has grown from a group 3,000 strong, to seeing over 35,000 participants. The Pittsburgh affiliate has also changed and updated over the years. But they have renewed the same promise to continue to save lives and empower people, so breast cancer can be eliminated. The Pittsburgh Affiliate serves 30 counties in Western and Central Pennsylvania through education, grants and resources. To find out more about how you can be a part of the promise visit pittsburghraceforthecure.org or call 412-342-0500. And plan on joining the 15th Anniversary of the Susan G. Komen Pittsburgh race For The Cure on Mother’s Day, May 13, 2007, at Schenley Park at Flagstaff Hill, Pittsburgh.
There are many things in this world that we consider powerful. One of the most important powers in my life is prayer. But the power of a promise, one that a sister gave to a sister 25 years ago, is also a part of my own life every day. So this year, I not only ask you to continue to Think Pink. I ask you to make a promise to be a part of the cause. I ask you to promise to help. I ask you to promise that you won’t forget until we find the cure for which we have been waiting for decades.
