Your Town- Breast Cancer Foundation By Kathleen Giordano

On March 23, 2006, twenty-five ordinary men and women were honored for their extraordinary accomplishments in their local communities for the fight against breast cancer with a special dinner held at the Conde Nast Headquarters in New York City.Yoplait, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and SELF Magazine conducted a search across the nation to find worthy individuals who have exemplified themselves as champions. There was not a dry eye in the room as each individual was introduced for their amazing undertakings through a video and each story was more compelling than the next. Each champion had been touched by breast cancer in one way or another. Some are patients, survivors, advocates, as well as family members of breast cancer victims. These real-life heroes are from seventeen different states throughout the United States. "It's an honor to recognize the Yoplait Champions for their dedication to the fight against breast cancer," said Camille Gibson, Vice President of Yoplait. "These real-life heroes are truly inspiring and I am in awe of their courage and strength."Yoplait honored these champions in conjunction with the Save Lids to Save Lives in a promotion that ran from March 15 through May 15. Yoplait will donate ten cents to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for every special pink lid that is saved and mailed in through July 31, 2006. Yoplait is willing to donate up to $1.5 million dollars with a guaranteed minimum donation of $500,000.The honored individuals were: (Everyone not shown here.)Ethel Kessler, designer of first breast cancer semi-postal stampSarah Copeland, founder of LibLinesTammy S. Greyshock, founder of "Laugh for the Cure"Martha Kaley, founder Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer TestCarmen Gonzalez, survivor who passes on strength to patients at Texas Tech University Breast Cancer Care CenterNancy A. Ryan, working so that breast cancer can not threaten women's livesBarbara Hensley, founded Hope Chest for Breast Cancer FoundationCookie Aftergut, personally helped more than 300 women through her program ChemoChicMary Lynn Faunda Donovan, helped secure $5 million in funding for breast cancer treatment for uninsured womenFran Robinson, dedicated the past 20 years to breast health educationDorothy Slator Paterson, educated young women about breast cancer such as "In the Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness" badge for girl scoutsFaye Dietiker, founded Breast Cancer AngelsJana Peters, founded The Ribbons of Pink FoundationHeather Pick, as an anchorwoman proves to viewers that cancer does not mean the end of daily lifeGenne' McDonald, encourages women with cancer to become more physically active and to "SurVIVA La Difference"Jeff Popkin, works with The Ellie Fund and will be the forefront of innovative family careChristine Smith, leads the Northwest Hope and Healing FoundationKaren Parker-Chesson, developed creative ways to educate people and raise money for researchDebbie Mancini-Wharff, organized an annual Crop for the Cure eventSharon L. Bassett, co-founded the Sharon L. Bassett FundBecky Haddad, committed volunteer to the Komen FoundationDenise O'Neill, founded the Survivors Offering Support mentoring programShaney Jo Darden, co-founded Keep a Breast FoundationDiane Youngblood, established the Diane Youngblood Endowment Fund for Breast Care Services andKathy Cawthon, co-founded The Cancer CrusadeThe Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the young age of 36. Today, the Foundation is an international organization with a network of more than 75,000 volunteers working through local affiliates and events like the Komen Race for the Cure® to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. A global leader in the fight against breast cancer, the foundation fulfills its mission through support of innovative breast cancer research grants, meritorious awards and educational, scientific and community outreach programs around the world. Together with its Affiliate Network, corporate partners and generous donors, The Komen Foundation has raise $750 million for the fight against breast cancer. SELF Magazine is the preeminent healthy lifestyle magazine for women. SELF debuted 26 years ago as the first-ever magazine of total well-being, incorporating health and beauty, fitness and nutrition, and happiness and personal style all in one package. SELF is the creator of the Pink Ribbon and has long been dedicated to the issues of women's health and breast cancer awareness. More than five million readers turn to SELF each month and is published by Conde Nast Publications