Kelli Anne Born didn’t always know that breast cancer would be such an influential part of her life. But when her mom, Dawn Born, was diagnosed with the growing disease in 1999, breast cancer awareness became a cause she would passionately support and fight for to find a cure.
Kelli’s advocacy to battle against breast cancer began at a young age from a place embedded deep in her heart. Just months after their parents’ divorce, Kelli and her two brothers received the news that their mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. From that moment on, at 10 years old, breast cancer awareness and a passion for activism would be a significant part of Kelli’s life.
“At the time, the only thing I could do was fight back,” reflects Kelli on the years after her mom’s diagnosis. “Each year my mom and I walked in the
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. It kind of became an annual tradition for us. That’s when I realized that each person really does make a difference.”
The Born family also found support and encouragement throughout Dawn’s sickness in two neighbors, Jane Weiner and Susan Rafte. The two sisters are breast cancer activists and founded the Pink Ribbons Project in 1995 when Rafte was diagnosed with the disease. The
Pink Ribbons Project is a non-profit organization that raises money to help improve the quality of life by those affected by breast cancer through the fine arts.
“I really admired Susan and Jane for taking a different route to increasing breast cancer awareness in Houston. By bringing in the fine arts, their organization attracted crowds and crowds of people. I’ll always remember my first Pink Ribbons Event,
Pink at the Brown. My mom and I didn’t know what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised!”
Kelli is now the founder of the first collegiate chapter of Pink Ribbons here at the
University of Georgia. Her model of the student organization, if successful, will be taken to other campuses around the country to increase college students’ knowledge and awareness of breast cancer.
“Last year I wrote an action plan for the Pink Ribbons Project as an assignment for my public relations writing class. I thought Susan and Jane would appreciate it, so I showed it to them when I went home for winter break. I had no idea that they would love it so much,” states Kelli. “They said my action plan was exactly what they had been looking for: a way to reach the college community. And now, Pink Ribbons is an official student organization! We already have a pretty good membership base too!”
Pink Ribbons at UGA became an official student organization in January 2010 and already has over 20 student members.
“We just had a bake sale this past Thursday and raised over $250,” says Kelli. “I’d definitely say it was a success. Students downtown were more than eager to donate and eat our homemade brownies and rice crispy treats.”
The long term goal of Pink Ribbons at UGA is to raise money to benefit local underprivileged women with
mammograms and increase breast cancer awareness among the Athens community. Kelli’s hopes for the organization are to educate men and women about breast cancer health and also develop strong relations with a hospital in Athens.
“We’re in the process of planning a Battle of the Bands Benefit Concert to kickoff next semester. All of our events will incorporate the fine arts just like the Pink Ribbons Project in Houston,” says Kelli. “Be on the lookout for big things from us!”
Kelli’s mom Dawn beat the battle against breast cancer and is still a devote activist. Her story of survival is an inspiration to all and especially Kelli.
Unfortunately, tragedy hit the Born family again this past winter when Kelli’s step mom, Lisa Born, was diagnosed with breast cancer too. Lisa is fighting the battle along side her loving family members and will hopefully win in the end. This heart-breaking news will only motivate Kelli further to ingrain Pink Ribbons in the UGA community.
Look out for the Pink Ribbons at UGA student organization next semester. It is bound to succeed because of the advocacy and passion that drives its cause!
