CDM Cancer Survivor's Foundation Nominated for Award

Corona del Mar resident Jane Sussman began the fight for her life in 2002 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. With her daughters, husband and volunteers by her side, Sussman has since regained her health and has garnered recognition for promoting volunteerism.

Sussman is the executive director of the Pink Ribbon Club Foundation, an O.C.- based nonprofit that was created by her daughters to educate teens about breast cancer and to guide them toward becoming community health advocates. 

How it started

The Pink Ribbon Club Foundation was created in 2002, when Sussman was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her daughters, Megan and Mallory, were teens at the time and looking for information about the disease that was easy to process.

"They were 14 and 16 back then. They didn't know what to do or what to expect. There was nothing for them to understand," Sussman explained. "It really knocked our socks because it sort of came out of nowhere."

So her girls started the first club at University High School in Irvine, then in 2005 another club formed at Laguna Beach High School. Since then, the club has expanded to 35 clubs in Orange County, including one at Corona del Mar High School and 30 more in other parts of the world. The foundation's efforts recently gained a nomination for OneOC's Spirit of Volunteerism Awards.

Why it matters

"Most people today know someone who has had breast cancer, whether it be their mom, grandma or neighbor," Sussman said. "And it does affect young women, and we have seen more and more younger women in Orange County being diagnosed."

Sussman recalls a 2002 case of a teenager at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana and said it highlights the need for teen education. "She was a volleyball player and thought she had been hit in the chest by a volleyball," Sussman explained. "She ended up showing her mom, and it turned out she had inflammatory breast cancer. She was diagnosed in October and passed away in February."

But it's not only about the tragic cases of the past. The foundation has proven to be useful to many of its current members who have had family members diagnosed after they joined the club.

Club activities

The clubs have a variety of activities that work with the culture of the school. Some do fashion shows, tournaments, sporting events, volunteering, fundraising and outreach. "We want our girls and boys in the clubs to be proactive and to learn as much as they can so they can share the information with their family members who might not know much about breast cancer," Sussman said.

A message to young women

As a survivor, educator and mentor, Sussman is constantly explaining the best way to be proactive. "Be aware of your bodies," Sussman said. "If something doesn't feel or look right, say something." 

Nomination for Spirit of Volunteerism Award

The Pink Ribbon Club Foundation was nominated for the award by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Orange County, which said the foundation "has contributed hundreds of volunteer service hours, helping to extend Komen's outreach and bringing a youthful, spirited and passionately pink presence wherever they go." 

Lisa Roberson-Beery knows those efforts firsthand. She sees the foundation's goal put into action on a daily basis, through the Sussman family and all the volunteers.

"This award is special because it’s a youth award that’s recognizing that these students are doing a great job in O.C.," Roberson-Beery, a foundation volunteer, said. "Jane is so kind and so willing to talk about what she has been through and to lend a hand. She is a survivor taking action with something that was really difficult for her."

The Spirit of Volunteerism Awards were created to recognize individual, group and corporate team volunteers who are committed to making a difference in Orange County. The award luncheon will be held April 14. To learn more about the Pink Ribbon Club Foundation or to make a donation visit prc-foundation.org.