History

Susan G. Komen fought breast cancer with her heart, body and soul. Throughout her diagnosis, treatments, and endless days in the hospital, she spent her time thinking of ways to make life better for other women battling breast cancer instead of worrying about her own situation. Moved by Susan’s compassion for others and commitment to making a difference, Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer.

Though Susan lost her battle with the disease, her legacy lives on through the work of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the organization Nancy started in her honor. Komen for the Cure is the global leader of the breast cancer movement, having invested more than $1 billion since its inception in 1982. Komen’s promise is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.
Across the country, that promise is upheld by a network of 121 local Affiliate offices. At the heart of each Affiliate is a person or group of people who, like Susan, wanted to make a difference.

History of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tyler Affiliate

The history of the Tyler Affiliate begins in a similar way as the national organization; through a relationship between two women.

Local Tylerite Anne Owens attended a Fort Worth Race for the Cure in 1996. Anne was extremely moved by this event and was sharing her emotions with a good friend that had just been diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer. Anne promised her friend that she would do anything she could to help fight off this disease.

This same year a teacher diagnosed with breast cancer, Freda Harder, and her oncologist, Dr. Vukelja, formed a breast cancer support group. They quickly realized that more breast health initiatives and services were needed in Smith County.

These three women individually contacted Susan G. Komen for the Cure headquarters in Dallas to find out how Tyler could join in this great cause. The Komen national offices actually made the connection between the three women.

The Komen Tyler Affiliate was approved in June 1998. The first Tyler Race for the Cure was held on May 8, 1999. That first race had approximately 2,500 participants. The 2008 race had more than 5,500. Over the last ten years, the Tyler Affiliate’s grants have provided over 5,000 mammograms and more than $1.5 million in services.

In 2006, in an effort to meet the growing demands of the Affiliate, the board of directors began exploring the possibility of hiring staff. In late 2006 the first staff person was hired and the office began having regular office hours three days a week. In 2008 the staff person was promoted to Executive Director and the board began transitioning from a working board to a governing board with working committees.

The Affiliate maintains a current website that is a primary source of information for breast health information, Affiliate events including the Race, and other breast health related events in the community. Affiliate brochures have been designed and are made available to the community through health fairs, physician’s offices, and cancer centers. Email blasts have begun serving as a means of communicating with the donor base, race participants, and survivors. In the fall of 2008 the first printed newsletter was mailed to 2,500 donors, survivors, and race participants.

Breast health education and Komen literature, as well as bilingual volunteers, have had a significant presence at Dia de las Madres, a Hispanic health fair held annually and sponsored by another non-profit organization. This event has developed a trust with the Hispanic population and is very well attended.

The Affiliate purchases and maintains a supply of “The Breast Cancer Treatment Handbook” by Judy C. Kneece, RN, OCN. This pink book has become a sought after resource for those recently diagnosed in the community.

The Board of Directors is the governing entity of the Affiliate. The board president directs the board and the committees including education, grants, volunteers, and cause-related fundraising. The daily operations of the Affiliate are run by the executive director. The executive director and the board president are the faces and voices of the Affiliate in the community.

History of Susan G. Komen Tyler Race for the Cure

The first Komen Tyler Race for the Cure® was held in 1999 and had 2,500 participants. The 2009 Race had more than 5,300 participants.

Since its conception in 1999, the Tyler Affiliate's grants are responsible for providing approximately 5,500 mammograms and more than $1.2 million in services.