By Severina Ware, NBCF Director of Volunteer Services
In the landscape of public health, the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) serves as a beacon of support, guided by the foundational principle of Helping Women Now. As the Director of Volunteer Services, I have had the unique, daily privilege of witnessing a community coalesce around this mission. Over the past four years, I have worked alongside volunteers from every walk of life who have graced our headquarters, lending their hands, hearts, and time to our programs and outreach efforts.
In recognition of Black History Month, I find myself reflecting on the profound presence of the Black women who sustain our mission. What began as simple volunteerism has, over time, blossomed into something far more transformative. It has become a sisterhood—a powerful, intentional force of nature that is actively reshaping the fight against breast cancer.
The Genesis of a Movement: From Service to Sisterhood
The journey from a volunteer shift to a movement is not accidental; it is built on the foundation of shared experience. When our volunteers gather for HOPE Kit packing parties or community outreach initiatives, they arrive with a common purpose, but they stay because of a common connection.
In these spaces, I have watched bonds form organically. There is a palpable energy in the room—a space where women laugh loudly, cry freely, and hold space for one another in ways that are both sacred and essential. Many arrive carrying the heavy weight of personal histories with breast cancer. Whether they are survivors themselves or are honoring the memory of mothers, sisters, and friends, these women choose to transmute their personal pain and uncertainty into a tangible force of hope for others.
The Role of Shared Experience
The power of this movement lies in the vulnerability that these women bring to the table. By sharing their stories, they break the silence that often accompanies a diagnosis. This vulnerability acts as a catalyst for advocacy. When one woman speaks about her struggle with systemic barriers or the emotional toll of treatment, she empowers the woman standing next to her to do the same. This cycle of sharing fosters a deep, enduring trust that is the hallmark of the sisterhood we witness at NBCF.
Personal Testimonies: Voices from the Frontlines
The effectiveness of our mission is best understood through the women who lead it. Their stories provide a roadmap for how we can improve health outcomes within the Black community.
Karen: The Intersection of Faith, Nursing, and Advocacy
Karen, a long-time NBCF volunteer, is both a registered nurse and a breast cancer survivor. Her perspective is shaped by both her professional clinical expertise and her personal journey through the healthcare system.
"NBCF’s commitment to empowering women through education, early detection, and community support aligns directly with the values I hold as a nurse, a survivor, and a woman of faith," Karen explains. "When I connected with NBCF, I found more than resources—I found sisterhood, reassurance, and purpose. Being part of this mission allows me to turn my experience into service and to stand alongside other women, encouraging them to prioritize their health and use their voices. When our voices are heard and respected, care improves—and outcomes change."
Diane: Healing Through Helping
For Diane, the motivation to volunteer is rooted in the isolation she felt during her own diagnosis in 2015. "When I was diagnosed, I became overwhelmed with everything I learned in the months following," she shares. "I had no one to talk to or cry with, no friends who had experienced it. Support is so very important. Whenever I pack tea bags, count inventory, or proofread encouragement cards, I know I am helping a woman in the way I needed help all those years ago."
Addressing Disparities: The Urgent Need for Action
While the spirit of volunteerism is celebratory, it is also driven by the stark reality of the medical landscape. For decades, the data has remained clear and troubling: Black women face higher mortality rates from breast cancer than their White counterparts, despite often having similar or lower incidence rates.
The Data Behind the Disparity
NBCF Chief Program Officer, Douglas Feil, emphasizes that the urgency of our mission is rooted in these systemic disparities. "For decades, Black women have been dying of breast cancer at a higher rate than White women," Feil notes. This disparity is not merely a statistical anomaly; it is a systemic failure of healthcare accessibility, cultural competence, and historical trust.
Coretta, a dedicated volunteer and advocate, speaks candidly about the cultural nuances that contribute to these statistics: "As an African American woman, NBCF’s mission holds particular significance to me. Our community experiences a disproportionately high rate of breast cancer diagnoses at late stages. This is often coupled with limited visibility or awareness about the critical need for proactive health measures. There’s a pervasive tendency within our community to prioritize the needs of our families above our own health, often ignoring warning signs or delaying screenings until it might be too late."
Implications for Future Outreach
The work being done by our volunteers is a direct response to these findings. By focusing on early detection and promoting the National Mammography Program, these women are serving as bridge builders. They are navigating the complex terrain of medical distrust and information gaps, meeting women where they are—in their churches, their community centers, and their social networks—with compassion and cultural fluency.
Chronology of Impact: Building a Culture of Care
The evolution of our volunteer program has followed a deliberate, human-centric trajectory:
- Foundational Awareness (Pre-2020): NBCF established its core volunteer programs, focusing on administrative support and packing HOPE Kits to provide emotional comfort to patients.
- Community Cultivation (2020–2022): The focus shifted toward intentional community building. We recognized that the volunteers were not just packing kits; they were forming a support network. This period saw the rise of more structured "Packing Parties" that prioritized dialogue alongside labor.
- Advocacy and Education (2023–Present): Our volunteers have transitioned into active educators. Leveraging their personal stories, they now work to demystify the screening process, specifically targeting communities where disparities in late-stage diagnosis remain prevalent.
This evolution highlights a critical truth: when you empower a volunteer, you create an advocate. When you empower a community, you create a movement.
Conclusion: A Future of Collective Strength
In a world that often demands that Black women be strong in isolation, the women I work with at NBCF choose strength in togetherness. They are proving daily that community is not just a concept—it is a practice of shared care.
This sisterhood is more than a fleeting moment; it is a movement rooted in love, resilience, and collective strength. The impact they create ripples far beyond the walls of our headquarters and into the lives of countless women who need to feel seen, supported, and held during their most vulnerable moments.
We honor their commitment. We celebrate their tenacity. And we thank them for nurturing a sisterhood of hope that continues to light the way for others.
How to Get Involved
The National Breast Cancer Foundation remains dedicated to providing support for anyone navigating a breast cancer diagnosis. Whether you are seeking information on early detection, looking for a support group, or interested in becoming part of our volunteer network, we are here to help.
- Educational Resources: Visit our online resource library to stay informed about your health.
- Support Services: Connect with a patient navigator to help guide you through the complexities of your journey.
- Join the Movement: Become a volunteer and help us carry out our mission of Helping Women Now.
Together, we can bridge the gap in care, improve outcomes, and ensure that no woman has to face breast cancer alone.
About the Author
