At age 21 I found a lump in left breast while a junior in college, I remember having to fly to my parents in Phoenix, AZ and have a lumpectomy, it was benign, thank God, but nonetheless it was scary and it’s always a reminder to me to pay attention to my body, search for lumps and be aware of any abnormalities. Breast Cancer among black women is a serious issue, nothing speaks more clearly to the shocking breast cancer health disparities than the fact that black women are less likely than white women to get breast cancer, yet have a higher breast cancer death rate. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Black women and in 2010, the CDC reported that breast cancer was the leading cause of cancer death for Black women aged 45–64 years. What was most alarming in this CDC report was that the breast cancer death rate for women aged 45–64 years was 60% higher for Black women than white women. Meet today’s Charity Spotlight Bikers Against Breast Cancer (BABC), born from the vision of Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shelia Green-Barnhill, a motorcycle enthusiast, in an effort to help in the battle against breast cancer. Originally, the organization aimed to raise funds solely for cancer research. However, the need to provide an accessible funding resource for people living with cancer quickly became apparent after hearing survivors tell their heart-breaking stories of their financial struggles. Today, BABC, Inc. focuses on education, awareness, and fundraising to provide temporary financial assistance to those persons directly or indirectly affected by cancer and who are struggling to pay their common living expenses.
The organization’s mission is to provide temporary financial assistance to people who are directly or indirectly affect by cancer and who are struggling to pay their common living expenses. You don’t have to be a biker to receive information or assistance, the organization is committed to helping people with any form of cancer, not just Breast Cancer. BABC likes to say they are a small organization, doing big things. To learn more about the cause or to donate visit www.babcinc.org.
