By Southwester Staff
There is a shared sentiment among the regular support group members of the Thelma D. Jones Breast Cancer Fund (TDJBCF) that the monthly meetings get better each month since inception in April 2010. Commencing at the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly’s conference room, the group eventually outgrew the space and relocated to St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church until the pandemic struck. Now, the TDJBCF meets monthly via Zoom and the TDJBCF Facebook live, missing only one meeting since its inception.
“I am always amazed at the expertise and background possessed by a growing list of outstanding guest speakers from Thelma’s vast network. I leave each meeting more inspired, educated, informed and hopeful for our future to finding a cure or at least reducing the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer,” said Scarlett S. Small, advocate, TDJBCF ambassador and former long-time caregiver who has attended the meetings faithfully since 2014.
The December meeting, focusing on the theme “Children of Parents with Breast Cancer – living or deceased” was no exception as guest speaker Brea Hickson, MBA, Inflammatory Breast Cancer Survivor, courageously shared her journey and openly discussed the mental toll that it had on her, her loving and supportive spouse who is a military officer, and their three young children. Mistress of Ceremony Lashanah Thomas-Walker led the question-and-answer session effortlessly, providing a deeper understanding of IBC and Hickson’s overall message that early detection saves lives, knowledge is power and advocating for oneself is so important.
Other highlights of the meeting included three wonderful musical renditions and brief partnership presentations by the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and a surprise announcement from team Undaunted Determination led by TDJBCF Ambassador Sheri Denkensohn-Trott, JD, Breast Cancer Survivor and Co-Founder, Happy on Wheels, reporting on reaching this year’s goal of $8,000 and having reached the $100,000 mark in 12 years while proudly being supported by the TDJBCF. Rounding out the presentations were speakers representing two Georgetown University grants on self-acupressure and the impact of Covid-19, both grants included Black, African Americans and Latina breast cancer survivors, and DC Health Project WISH. To see the full meeting, visit https://www.facebook.com/TDJBreastCancerFund.
Looking ahead to the New Year, having an outstanding meeting at the end of the year is equally important as starting the year with a great meeting, as the January meeting sets the tone for the rest of the year. Join us on Wednesday, January 18, at 6:30 pm via Zoom and the TDJBCF Facebook Live as the TDJBCF is pleased to welcome back by popular demand to ring in the New Year Kristen Berset-Harris, Host, Great Day Washington, WUSA9. Berset-Harris will share her story and discuss the importance of early detection and screening, breast density and her outstanding advocacy work on a personal and professional level. To help set the tone of our monthly support group meetings for 2023, the TDJBCF welcomes Alejandra Hurtado de Mendoza, PhD, Georgetown University, as the Mistress of Ceremony. Mark your calendar and bring in the New Year’s with us! For more informatio on the TDJBCF, please visit www.tdjbreastcancerfund.org or email thelma@tdjbreastcancerfund.org.