Can a middle-aged woman change the world?

Into the public discourse

“Almost immediately,” recalls Brinker, “doctors reported an increase in women asking for screenings. Many women who had hidden or denied a lump in their breast found the courage to take action. News coverage brought the words ‘breast cancer’ out of the shadows and into the public discourse.

“Betty Ford opened the door for so many women, myself included, encouraging us to deal honestly and openly with this disease at a time when breast cancer was swept under the rug. She inspired me personally to do everything I could to keep pushing that door open. She made it possible for me to understand that I was not alone, that I could be part of ending suffering from a disease that is still the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women.

An inspiration

“I remember the day in 1982 when my son Eric and I -- he was just 7 years old at the time -- greeted Mrs. Ford as she stepped out of a plane and into the stifling Dallas heat to help launch our new Susan G. Komen Foundation. My eyes filled with tears: One of the most courageous First Ladies in history was here helping to fulfill the promise I made to my sister, who died of breast cancer in 1980, to do everything in my power to end this disease forever.

“When we asked Mrs. Ford to join us for the women's polo tournament that we'd organized to raise funds for our fledgling organization, she readily agreed, as long as we could guarantee that she wouldn't have to get up on a horse and play.”