2010 Survivor Celebration
View our 2010 Survivor Celebration candid photo gallery, courtesy of our Komen photographers at Dreamland Images, Inc.



2009 Charlene Daughtrey Winner

Lucy Spears accepts the 2009 Charlene Daughtrey Award

This story begins with a young woman in her late thirties who finds a lump in her breast and sees her doctor. She is assured that due to her young age and no breast cancer in her family, she should keep an eye on it but not to worry. Come back next year.

Another year goes by and again she is told not to worry – but then at the last minute they decide a mammogram should be done.

She is diagnosed with breast cancer, and she must find a way to share this information with 2 young children. She has a husband she must count on as a "care giver". AND Due to clerical error – she has been told her family no longer has health insurance!

She and her husband began to research the internet for sources of information about breast cancer, referrals and support groups. They found Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and their journey began.

Around 3 ½ years ago she wanted to become more involved with a breast health organization to ensure more people understood the importance of breast health information and of early detection. Once settled on the board of directors for the Lowcountry Affiliate, she developed education plans, seminars and workshops to offer a variety of breast health information. Her Passion is Education – or the lack of – and she has met as many groups as she and her committee could find to listen to their message. She tells the story about how Susan G. Komen for the Cure was founded, and she urges women and men to take good care of themselves. She speaks to groups of 100 or more or as few as 2!

For the past 2 years she has advanced the Lowcountry commitment to become more involved with Public Policy. By joining forces with Upstate Affiliate, ACS, SCCA and Best Chance Network, $2 million dollars was budgeted in the 2008 State budget to help uninsured women.

She has just returned from Washington, DC where she helped lobby for more cancer research money to be budgeted. She and Upstate Affiliate accepted a plaque for 2009 Advocacy Alliance State Policy Collaborative of the Year. Charlene Daughtrey would be so proud to know that: Lucy Spears is the 2009 Winner of the Charlene Daughtrey Award