2026 Komen Triangle Race for the Cure
Diana Bader
Will you please join me in this fight by joining Team Whoop Ass or by making a donation today? Please use this link: http://www.info-komen.org/goto/WHOOPCANCERSASS
JOIN our team Whoop Ass for the Komen NC of the Triangle 5K Race/ Walk
on Saturday, April 25 at 8am
at NEW LOCATION, the Durham Bulls Athletic Park
409 Blackwell St, Durham, NC!
Soul Searching for My 10-Year Cancer Anniversary!
10 years ago today, I was receiving chemotherapy … immediately after having rotator cuff
surgery & after a head shaving party …. I did NOT want to see my hair fall out in clumps ….
It was the ONLY aspect I could control. Once you hear the words, “You have cancer,” the
world stops and turns upside down for you, your family & friends.
10 years ago, I was diagnosed with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC).
TNBC is rare, highly aggressive, grows faster, has a worse prognosis,
has fewer treatment options
AND has a very high likelihood of coming back.
LET THAT SINK IN.
Using three chemotherapy drugs was the ONLY treatment option available.
With TNBC only accounting for 10-15% of all breast cancers,
research studies and funding were in short supply.
As I watched one of the Chemo drugs, nicknamed “The Red Devil” and,
yes, it was bold red liquid, in the hanging IV bag (wrapped in a nuclear-safe package)
going through the plastic tubing into the newly surgically implanted port in my chest delivering
this poison directly into my heart to circulate throughout my body….
to possibly KILL the cancer … there was no guarantee it would work.
10 years ago, and continuing forward, Estrogen Receptor-positive,
Progesterone Receptor-positive,
and HER2-postive breast cancers were,
and still are the more common breast cancers and
therefore, have had more treatment options due to well-funded research studies.
Komen & Komen of the Triangle provided funding for RESEARCH
right here in North Carolina! Susan G. Komen announced a $2 million research grant
to support groundbreaking work at Duke Cancer Institute and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive
Cancer Center. These two powerhouse institutions are coming together,
combining their expertise to make real strides in understanding
and treating metastatic breast cancer.
Susan G. Komen + Duke Cancer Center
+ UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center = REAL IMPACT
The Susan G. Komen® Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Collaborative Research Initiative
is a first-of-its-kind collaborative effort that is bringing together the best and
brightest researchers at Duke Cancer Institute and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer
Center to find breakthrough discoveries to end metastatic breast cancer. Research will cure
this disease. Until then, research will transform MBC from a terminal diagnosis to a
chronic disease, giving patients and their families the priceless gift of time.
‘Building a rainbow out of bricks’: NC woman’s push for breast cancer research is personal – Pam Kohl, former Executive Director, Komen TriangleNC
Read more at: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article267887237.html#storylink=cpy
Susan G. Komen's IMPACT on Breast Cancer
https://www.komen.org/about-komen/our-impact/
RESEARCH only happens with FUNDING! And TNBC is actively being researched now!
With well-funded research, a cure can be found to end this horrible scourge!
Please join me in celebrating my 10-year anniversary to support Komen NC of the Triangle by:
- Joining our team Whoop Ass for the 5K race/ walk on Saturday, April 25 at 8am at the NEW LOCATION, the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, 409 Blackwell St, Durham, NC;
- Donating to our team Whoop Ass;
- Or Taking a walk together in your neighborhood, in a park or on a trail.
- Please send us pictures!
I was and still am incredibly grateful for the huge wave of continued support
from my incredible & strong family,
loving extended family
and my prayer warrior, die-hard, badass friends
for lifting me up during my cancer journey when I was too weak during my grueling chemo,
excruciating double mastectomy & painful reconstruction, for making sure I had protein,
calories, water, multiple medications to stay strong to fight breast cancer, for making me laugh
and for hugging me when I cried!
Each one of you gave me tremendous strength and remarkable hope to Whoop Cancer’s Ass!
That HOPE will continue for the rest of my life.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
What do I thank cancer for?
For stopping me in my tracks … Life came to a complete halt …
What did I learn?
We are NOT guaranteed tomorrow …
Tomorrow is a magnificent gift …
Love stronger, Hug tighter, Be present in every moment,
Cherish with your whole heart your family and friends!
Also, a huge thank you and round of applause to the doctors, oncologists, surgeons, nurses and their entire team for their care, expertise, compassion and kindness cheering me on.
We did this together as a team united with TEAM WHOOP ASS! I’m a cancer thriver because of YOU and your continued encouragement, herculean support & inspiration you have brought me for the last 10 years and continues to do to this day!
I’m stronger today than before cancer! Why? Because of YOU!
That’s why every year our family and friends come together as Team Whoop Ass and participate in the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure.
We’ve been a top fundraiser over the past nine years, and we want to
continue that commitment this year.
The money is crucial in continuing to discover better treatments and a cure.
Will you please join me in this fight by joining Team Whoop Ass
or by making a donation today?
Please use this link:
http://www.info-komen.org/goto/WHOOPCANCERSASS
Contributing whatever you can. Do it for those you know who have been impacted by breast cancer, and for those that have yet to be impacted.
Someday, we won't have to worry about losing loved ones to breast cancer. I hope you will join us in our race for the cure.
Race for the Cure Alumni
