Letter from Joanne Calabria


Dear Friends,


Twenty years! It hardly seems possible that two decades have passed since I met our tireless Executive Director, Elaine Grobman, in an elevator, where she immediately pitched the idea of having Channel 3 sponsor the breast cancer race that was still a gleam in her eye. Those of you who know Elaine and have been moved to action by her dedication will have no trouble understanding why she had my commitment before that elevator hit the lobby.


At the time of that encounter, I was an easy mark. I had just watched my younger sister fighting for her life after a breast cancer diagnosis, unaware we would take that journey again with my older sister in the years to come. My hope then would be that there would be a cure before my four young nieces had their first mammograms... and I was willing to do whatever I could to make that dream come true. My nieces are now grown, and I've been blessed with a grandniece who I believe will see the realization of that dream.


As the 20th annual Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure approaches, we have much to celebrate: climbing cancer survival rates, services multiplying, awareness hitting extraordinary levels, and scientific breakthroughs that have literally changed the face of breast cancer. What will the next two decades bring? I have no doubt - a world without breast cancer. If you are reading this, then you are playing a part in making that dream a reality, and for that, we applaud you.


Thank you for your continued support,

 

Joanne Calabria
President, Board of Directors
The Philadelphia Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure