Molly May announced as 19TH ANNUAL Metro Jackson RACE FOR THE CURE Honorary Chair 6 • March/April 2018
The Memphis-Midsouth Mississippi Affiliate of Susan G. Komen® recently announced that Molly May will serve as the 2018 Race for the Cure Honorary Chair. At age 19, Molly May became the youngest person to undergo at double mastectomy in the state of Mississippi. Being a BRCA1 positive gene carrier as well, Molly has dedicated the last 3.5 years of her life to promoting early detection and being an advocate for the younger generations within the breast cancer community. As the honorary race chair, Molly will be a spokesperson in the fight to end breast cancer and encourage participation in the 19th annual Race for the Cure event scheduled for April 14 at the Renaissance at Colony Park. “We are thrilled to have Molly serve as this year’s Race for the Cure honorary chair,” said Catherine Young, Senior Vice President of the Memphis-Midsouth Affiliate. “Molly is an inspiration to others, and her story with her focus on younger generations, creates awareness that this disease can strike at any age. Recent studies show that breast cancer is affecting younger and younger women and the statistic that 1 in 8 women will have breast cancer remains unchanged. Molly brings a new voice to the fight against breast cancer.” With the help and guidance of her mother Debra, also a 15-year stage III breast cancer survivor, Molly has started her own non-profit organization “Bald is Beautiful” raising funds and donating hats to patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments. She will be publishing her first memoir entitled “My Crowning Achievement: Beating Cancer” in August 2018 in publication with the Dogwood Press of Jackson. Molly is a 23-year old cum laude honors graduate from Mississippi State University where she majored in communication and public relations. She was also a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, the Transfer Student Association, the MSU Relay for Life, and 6 honor societies. Molly represented her university as Miss Maroon and White 2016 and Miss Mississippi State University 2017. Race for the Cure is scheduled for Saturday, April 14, 2018, at a new location, Renaissance at Colony Park, Ridgeland. The morning’s activities will begin at 6:30 a.m. with a special survivor breakfast. Race for the Cure will include the Kids One Mile Fun Run/Walk, an optional timed 5K and timed 10K. The event will feature the Kids for the Cure activities tent, the ever-popular Team Tailgate area and sponsor tents. The “Pink It Up” contest will recognize the best “Pinked Up” person. Other contests include best-decorated team tailgate and best t-shirt design. Put on your pink tutu, form a team, and race to help end breast cancer. The Central Mississippi Steel Magnolias Affiliate of Susan G. Komen® recently joined forces with the Memphis Komen affiliate to create Susan G. Komen Memphis-Midsouth Mississippi. This formation allows the affiliate to expand the fight to end breast cancer by serving the State of Mississippi and 14 counties in Tennessee. Since 1999, Metro Jackson Race for the Cure has provided over $3.25 million in direct grants to local health providers in the 59-county service area in Mississippi and over $800,000 to breast cancer research. The grants from Komen Jackson Race for the Cure provide the funds for life-important screenings, mammograms, diagnostics and treatment. One hundred percent of Metro Jackson Race for the Cure net event proceeds goes toward breast health services with 75 percent staying here in our community for local breast health care programs. The remaining 25 percent goes toward breast cancer research. No one else does what we do for women and men here at home. For more information about Metro Jackson Race for the Cure, to become a sponsor or register for the event, call 601.932.3999 or visit komenmemphisms.org. Hometown madison • 7
Change language