Personal stories of breast cancer highlight 18th annual Celebrating Women luncheon
On October 26 , 1,300 attendees celebrated the 18th annual Baylor Health Care System Foundation Celebrating Women luncheon . Presented for the 13th consecutive year by Tom Thumb , the event raised more than $ 1.8 million to benefit Baylor Scott & White Health ’ s fight against breast cancer in North Texas .
Peggy and Leonard Riggs Jr ., M . D ., served as honorary chairmen , and this year ’ s event was chaired by Tucker Enthoven , with Ola Fojtasek serving as underwriting chairman .
During their remarks , Tucker and Ola announced an anonymous challenge grant – matching dollar for dollar , up to $ 25,000 , any gifts made at the event . Including the match , this resulted in an additional $ 60,000 raised during the luncheon .
Breast cancer survivor Carolyn Brown was joined onstage by her team of caregivers — more than 20 members of her medical team , family and friends who helped her and her family heal as she was battling stage III triple negative breast cancer .
“ When I think of the heroes involved in caring for our patients , it ’ s not just the doctors and the people behind the scenes , but it is also people who are sitting in the room of a breast cancer event , like Celebrating Women , that really bring forward the way that we care for patients and the way that we treat this disease ,” said breast surgeon Michael Grant , M . D .
Emmy-nominated and Golden
Globe award-winning actress , bestselling author and advocate in the fight against breast cancer , Jamie Lee Curtis , was the featured speaker . She shared an intimate glimpse inside her personal life and breast cancer scare as she was interviewed by Rowland K . Robinson , Foundation president .
Recalling her breast cancer scare at age 40 , Jamie Lee shared , “ My memory of it was the wait in that room for the diagnosis . Either an allclear , which was my case , or the diagnosis of breast cancer and then the eventual treatment plan and care team stepping in . And what I remember about it , and the reason why I try to stay active , is that moment of feeling alone , even though my sweet husband , Christopher [ Guest ], was sitting with me . It is a profound moment of truth . … And , as I got the ‘ all clear ’ from it , I was grateful to my doctor who found it . I ’ m incredibly lucky , but I ’ ll never forget that moment .”
Over the last 18 years , Celebrating Women has raised more than $ 30 million for the fight against breast cancer in North Texas .
Peggy Riggs , Jamie Lee Curtis and Dr . Leonard Riggs Jr .
For more information on Celebrating Women and to see Carolyn Brown ’ s story , visit Give . BaylorHealth . com / CelebratingWomen .
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