Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan
The “Betty Ford blip”, as it is known, was among the first women of national prominence to be open about her breast cancer. Just weeks after she became the First Lady she underwent a mastectomy. “There had been so much cover-up during Watergate that we wanted to be sure there would be no cover-up in the Ford administration,” she quipped when asked about her forthrightness.
“When other women have this same operation, it doesn’t make any headlines,” she told Time. “But the fact that I was the wife of the President put it in headlines and brought before the public this particular experience I was going through. It made a lot of women realize that it could happen to them. I’m sure I’ve saved at least one person — maybe more.” Thank you Betty Ford.
Ambassador Nancy Brinker and Ambassador Gary Doer
Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts detailed her painful struggle at a former Susan G. Komen event and continues to be open about the disease, as did NBC’s Andrea Mitchell.
Here is a look back at last year’s Gala event with Jacqueline Smith, Bob Schieffer, Richard Roundtree and others as interviewed by Hollywood on the Potomac.
The 24th annual Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure took place on Mother’s Day weekend with the theme “Make Mom Proud,” honoring mothers and women everywhere. The event on The National Mall was preceded by a reception hosted by Gary Doer, The Ambassador of Canada, on Wednesday in honor of the 24th annual Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure.
The reception highlighted the local and global impact of breast cancer and featured remarks from the 2013 Global Race Honorary Co-Chairs Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Aaron Schock. Special guest Josh Morgan of the Washington Redskins talked about his reason for partnering with Komen: his godmother, a local survivor of triple-negative breast cancer.
WJLA-ABC7’s Cynné Simpson
Country singer Colby Dee
The Events
Hollywood on the Potomac spoke with an emotional “Diva Layla” who was in town for the Race for the Cure about her own mother who lost the battle. The dancer, model, actress and professional wrestler works for World Wrestling Eintertainment on its SmackDown brand under the ring name Layla. It was certainly a hard weekend for those who have lost their mothers, especially at such a young age. She continues to advocate early detection and prevention. Here is a heartfelt look at an ad she did for the cause:
