never had. What a blessing and how fortunate are we to be able to do that.
DC: You’re leading this charge for breast and ovarian cancer prevention in young women. Do you consider yourself a hero?
LA: Not a hero. I consider myself answering the call of responsibility. I was fortunate to have the chance to have parents that were very progressive, action oriented and solution focused. I’ve been fortunate to have the knowledge that so many women don’t and I feel called to serve in this way. Anytime someone goes through a life defining experience, we either put it out our minds or use that experience to do some good. I want to make sure that other women are equipped with tools and resources and know which questions to ask, in order to be proactive with their health.
DC: Tell me about a time when you questioned whether or not you wanted to continue your journey with Bright Pink.
LA: Two and half years a go I had a moment and realized that I had been at it for about five years and felt like I was banging my head against the wall fundraising. I remember there was point when I didn’t want to talk about removing my breasts at age 23 anymore. Around that time I met my fiancé, whose late wife had passed away from breast cancer at forty two years old. We started dating and I now have two amazing step daughters in my life, which lost their mother at an unthinkable age. I often think about the day when they will go for their first OBGYN appointment or genetic testing. I have a very clear point view of how I want the world to be for them at that moment, and to me that is the fire that has recharged me. Now my fire is burning hotter than ever and it’s because of my two little eleven and fourteen year old girls that are counting on me to make it different for them.
DC: Can you give me your definition of an inspirational woman?
LA: Two things. One would be somebody that brings others along with them as they learn lessons, accomplish the hard stuff and move forward in life. It’s not just about getting to the end, but about serving others. The second is being fearless with failure and having that opportunity to fail fast and then move on.
DC: Who are those inspirational women in your life?
LA: I have many inspirational women in my life, but hands down I would have to say my own mom. She’s had 52 chemo treatments, two bouts of cancer, one bout of hepatitis C due to a bad blood transfusion, but she is always happy. She has a sign above her mirror that reads “This life is not a dress rehearsal.” She never wakes up on the wrong side of the bed. The other inspirational person is Joan Hilson, our board Chair and the CFO of David’s Bridal. She is the perfect blend between heart and compassion and a kick-ass savvy business woman. I’ve learned so much from watching her doing her thing. Also the women who we’re serving at Bright Pink blow my mind. They find the bright side in everything they do and latch onto the good and not the bad.
DC: Where do you want Bright Pink to go from here?
LA: Within the next four years by 2019 we want to make sure that every single OBGYN going into practice is being educated by Bright Pink. We will be working with 100 of the 240 residency OBGYN programs this year alone and will invest over a half million dollars in just educating residents. I would love a day that every single woman in her twenties has come into contact with Bright Pink, whether at her doctor’s office, local mall, or in a magazine that forces her to reconsider how she can be more proactive about her health. At the end of the day, it all comes back to those two little girls that are counting on me and creating a sense of hope that it doesn’t have to be for them like it was for their mom. It can be different and that’s what it’s all about.