FIGHTING BREAST CANCER IS IN STYLE AT PB COUNTRY CLUB

By Eva Marie Pearson/Commercial Accent Editor

The color pink has long been associated with the battle against breast cancer.

In the fall of 1991, Susan G. Komen for the Cure distributed pink ribbons to participants in its New York City race for breast cancer survivors.

In 2001, Jefferson Regional Medical Center held its first In the Pink style show and luncheon with all proceeds going to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the organization founded in 1982 by Nancy G. Brinker, fulfilling the promise she made to her sister before she died from breast cancer that she would do anything in her power to end the disease forever.

Held every other year, In the Pink attracted a capacity (about 350) crowd to the Pine Bluff Country Club on Wednesday. The event raised $40,000 for Komen for the Cure, announced Julie Bridgforth, JRMC director of marketing.

Just as Brinker was forever changed because of her sister’s illness, four women with local ties shared their experiences of being the relative of a breast cancer survivor.

Cristen Barnett said that her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in October. After surgery and treatment, Barnett said, her mother didn’t miss a beat.

Breast cancer is no stranger to Debra Deshazier’s family. There are five daughters in the family and three have had breast cancer. She said that she sees the strong will of their mother and the miracles of God manifested in her family.

Almost a year ago, Beth Yocum said that she received a call from her sister that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. “In that moment, breast cancer became a big part of my life’s journey.” In a team effort, she and her two sisters were able to turn the tragedy into something positive because “the human spirit can only take so much yuck.”

Emily Harbuck is the daughter and granddaughter of cancer survivors. Both, she said, focused on the future rather than lingering on the past.

Bob Atkinson, chief executive officer of JRMC, noted that 15 years ago, the hospital was an initial sponsor of Komen’s Race for the Cure. JRMC was the first team with 1,000 participants and for several years had the largest team. It is, he said, gratifying to see other businesses getting involved and developing their own teams.

JRMC has been the recipient of grants from Komen for its Reach Every Woman program that provides mammograms for women who are uninsured, underinsured and have not met their insurance deductibles. During the past four years, there have been 835 women who have received mammograms, resulting in 30 biopsies and 12 breast cancer detections.

He is pleased, Atkinson said, with JRMC’s long-standing relationship with Komen and that the hospital puts breast health as a high priority.

Race season is here, said Sherrye McBryde, executive director of the Arkansas Affiliate of Komen for the Cure. She said in the past year, the affiliate has awarded $1.2 million in Arkansas grants and $400,000 in national research grants. The affiliate has given a total of $7.4 million in grants.

At each place, there was a card with step-by-step instructions on how to complete registration online (www.komenarkansas.com) for the Race for the Cure. The packets will be delivered to each registrant’s door.

Last year, the JRMC team had 1,200 members; the goal this year is 1,500 who will join the more than 45,000 runners from throughout the state Oct. 11 at Little Rock, said Rebecca Pittillo, luncheon chairman, team captain and manager of public relations and community outreach for JRMC.

“Tell your friends who have more important things to do that they can go straight to the Web site and register as a spirit runner,” Pittillo said.