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Sacramento Affiliate Part Of Breast Cancer Global Summit
Donna Sanderson, Ed. D., Executive Director of the Sacramento Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, served as one of 25 delegates representing the United States at "Ignite the Promise: Global Advocate Summit" in Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 29-30, 2007.
Komen for the Cure Founder Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker opened the Summit with a sobering statistic: "With more than one million women and men being diagnosed with breast cancer every year and more than 400,000 people dying from it, we face a global breast cancer crisis."
For this reason, Komen is launching an unprecedented global expansion to create sustainable breast cancer outreach and education programs around the globe in Brazil, Costa Rica, Ghana, India, Jordan, Mexico, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and United Arab Emirates. The countries with the greatest needs and highest potential for change were selected based on data from the World Health Organization and information from Komen's grants in more than 50 countries. Komen has developed five in-depth training modules to be rolled out in each country, which capture the organization's methodology and best practices: community assessment, volunteer and organization development, awareness & education, fundraising and advocacy.
"The need to provide women--regardless of race, nationality or socioeconomic status--an equal opportunity to beat a breast cancer diagnosis has never been greater," added Ambassador Brinker. "To ensure the programs are culturally sensitive and sustainable, we are hiring in-country teams and partnering with various NGOs, governments and healthcare centers in each country to educate women and girls at the grassroots level, train health workers and address policy issues."
Dr. Sanderson is one of the extraordinary advocates selected by Susan G. Komen for the Cure for their records of activism and success in the fight against breast cancer. These women and men have contributed to breast cancer detection and treatment advances through community outreach, shaping public policy, offering health education, providing survivor support and fundraising.
Sanderson became involved with the Komen Sacramento Affiliate as a volunteer in August 1993. In October of the same year, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She continued as an "I'll do anything" volunteer with the affiliate through the first Komen Race for the Cure in 1997. That race raised the first grant funds for the affiliate since its inception. Chosen to be the first President of the affiliate board, Sanderson helped institute Sacramento's first grant program. "The board consisted of myself and two volunteers. From there we have grown to be a very strong affiliate in our community."
As a 14-year breast cancer survivor and an educational psychologist, Sanderson is passionate about building on and sharing an appreciation and respect for other cultures. "We will not have completed our work in fulfilling Komen's Promise until there is no breast cancer anywhere in the world." said Sanderson. "The Advocate's Summit is an important step toward that goal."
Komen Global Summit Honorary Co-Chair Mrs. Laura Bush, a longtime Komen volunteer and breast cancer advocate, welcomed the delegates via a recorded video message. "Komen has lifted taboos, and increased breast-cancer awareness&because of these efforts, millions of women now enjoy longer and healthier lives," said Mrs. Bush. "One day, your work will lead to a cure--and this historic gathering is an important step."
The Global Advocate Summit was held in conjunction with the Breast Health Global Initiative Consensus Conference on Oct. 1-4, also in Budapest, Hungary.
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