Nancy G. Brinker

Nancy Brinker at one of her Races for the Cure. (www.komennyc.org)

Mario Andretti once said, "Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek." Nancy Brinker's motivation and determination to find a cure for breast cancer makes her seem heroic to many women. Nancy G. Brinker was born on December 6, 1946 in Peoria, Illinois. After the death of Nancy's sister in 1980, she created the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in her honor in 1982. Brinker held the first Race for the Cure in 1983 in Dallas, Texas with 800 participants walking to find a cure. Within 20 years, Brinker has raised $750 million and her foundation is now one of the biggest cancer foundations in the world. Her hard work has led to multiple awards and her title as Ambassador to Hungary because she has increased awareness and early detection of breast cancer in Hungary and have breast cancer be the third biggest killer of woman, instead of first. Nancy Brinker has influenced many with her determination and desire to find a cure and end breast cancer.

Sisters Susan G. Komen and Nancy Brinker. (www.community.cbs47.tv)

Brinker's determination is one of her most heroic traits. She started one of the biggest cancer foundations up to date with just "a typewriter, and a list of names, Brinker gathered about 20 friends in her Dallas living room in 1982 and the foundation was born" (Newsmakers Cumulation). Brinker started with basically nothing and has fundraised so much to now have raised awareness about breast cancer around the world. She has also raised over $750 million dollars which now helps find the cure and pay for the treatment of breast cancer. She literally went from rags to riches with this foundation. Her determination has helped others and helped her come closer to achieving her goal that "In 2009, President Barack Obama honored her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, for this work. The same year, she was named Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control for the United Nations' World Health Organization, where she continues her mission to put cancer control at the top of the world health agenda" (Brinker). For a president to notice the determination and hard work to help others is awesome because he has other important tasks in his life and noticing how a foundation can affect others and recognized it is something special. It shows that with determination you can achieve anything and get recognized by the greatest of people. Determination is the start to big things, and Nancy Brinker has definitely achieved great things in her life.

Nancy Brinker getting her award from President Ob (www.nakedthanks.com)

Nancy Brinker's desire to find a cure for breast cancer is also something to look up to. Something that fuels her desire to find a cure is the promise she made to her sister "that she would do everything possible to end the shame, pain, fear and hopelessness caused by this disease. In one generation, the organization that bears Susan's name has changed the world" (Brinker). Brinker's desire is stronger by the promise she made to her sister and her anxiousness to fulfill it. This is such a big commitment, and it proves that a sister's love can give someone reasons to do the craziest of things, and fulfill her promise. Her experience also fuels her desire, for example "she detected a lump in her breast, which turned out to be cancerous. She took an aggressive approach to her treatment. According to the Oregonian's Leslie Barker, Brinker, upon learning of her diagnosis, screamed at her doctor: "I want them both off today! Get them off me!" Aside from a mastectomy, Brinker also underwent several rounds of chemotherapy and survived, emerging from the ordeal weakened, bald, and determined to help others win the battle" (Newsmakers Cumulation). With her experience, her desire to help others and motivation to help find the cure grows because she doesn't want anyone to feel how she and her sister did. With the words she published in her book The Race is One Step at a Time she remembers her experience and of the promise she made which will hopefully spread to others and encourage them to help fight for the cure. The desire of Brinker to end breast cancer has driven her to make sure other women do not sure as she and her sister have.

A current photo of Nancy Brinker. (ww5.komen.org)

Nancy Brinker's determination and desire to find a cure for breast cancer has influenced many people and is a heroic woman to many people. Brinker's determination, commitment, experience, and desire have led her to build a strong foundation working towards a cure for a breast cancer, be an Ambassador to Hungary, and receive many awards. Determination and desire give you a push to want to achieve your goals. In this case the goal is to find a cure for breast cancer, and she has already saved the lives of many and raised awareness of breast cancer without an established cure. Brinker has saved many lives or extended the lives of many, all because of a promise to her beloved sister. Brinker is an inspiration, considered a hero, and a life saver by many. Mario Andretti was correct, determination and desire is the key to achieving one's goals, and maybe even saving lives.