W.H.I.P. bring awareness, support to breast cancer community
BY KADIE TAYLOR
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
VALLEY — The organization team Working to Help Those In Pink (W.H.I.P.) is hosting a free Bridges to Breast Wellness workshop funded by the East Alabama Community Foundation. The workshop will be held on Jan. 17 at 10:30 a.m. ET at the Circle of Care, 14 Medical Park in Valley.
“Our goal in our rural community is to reach, to serve and reduce inequalities,” said Co-Founder and Coach Narfunda Ross. “So the inequalities come from us not knowing our family history [and having questions like] what do we do prior to our primary physician? Once we make it to our primary physician, what's the next step? So this [workshop is part of our] T.E.A. project, which is Teaching, Empowering and Advocating for those in the community. At this particular [workshop], we're going to talk about the female reproductive system and how it relates to breast cancer. We're going to have a genetic counselor, and she's also going to be there to educate us on the benefits of having genetic counseling.”
Ross said she has enjoyed supporting those in the community who are on their breast cancer journey and those who have survived breast cancer — and she is looking forward to many more years of helping others through W.H.I.P.
“Those that we have interacted with have had a positive response — simply [from] knowing that they have someone that will walk with them through their journey, even after surgery, there is survivorship, and we are an organization of survivorship, helping you to thrive beyond that color,” she said. “We had a great response, sponsorship has been phenomenal this year. We celebrated 10 years, but we would like to see more.”
Serving West Point, Chambers County and Lee County, Ross said W.H.I.P. is an organization of breast cancer survivors working to help others through what they have experienced themselves.
“Our focus is to help a survivor thrive beyond the color,” she said. “We have support sessions that are sponsored by Forge. In the community, we have programs and events. We like to say we are community-based, so we have to be community-engaged. We are made up of 95% breast cancer survivors, and we enjoy what we do.”
For women in the community who may not think that this event is for them, Ross said she wants to encourage everyone to attend, because no one knows when they will need the empowerment of education and resources.
“It may not be you today, it could be you tomorrow — be intentional and be proactive towards your health. Anybody who has breast tissue is subject to breast cancer,” she said. “Early detection does not start with a mammogram. Early detection does not start with a self-breast exam. Early detection starts with education and knowing your family history. That's early detection, which is the most preventive measure that you can take towards your health.”
Through personal experiences, Ross shared how she was both a support system and received support from women in her family who had breast cancer.
“I first experienced breast cancer in 2006 with my mother; she was very independent, very reserved with it,” she said. “I experienced it in 2008 for myself, but I had my sister, who had medical [experience], who helped guide and coach me along my journey. I then, in turn, became her support system in 2014 when she was diagnosed. So we're very familiar with what support is and what support does. It's all about being there for one another, helping them walk this journey, educating them, advocating for them and supporting them emotionally.”
For more information, visit Team WHIP on Facebook or @teamwhip2015 on Instagram. Those who attend the free event should register prior to the workshop at www.teamwhip2015.com.
