Debbie Cantwell, a breast cancer survivor and founder of the Pink Daisy Project, will speak on how she turned a devastating life experience into something positive, on Monday, October 24, at noon, in the Scripps College Hampton Room, Malott Commons. Her talk, “Making Pink Lemonade out of Lemons,” is given in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and is free and open to the public.
In 2008, Cantwell founded the Pink Daisy Project, a nonprofit organization that provides support to women under 45 diagnosed with breast cancer. The organization’s message is “Cope. Hope. Heal.” Operated from Cantwell’s living room, the small organization’s success is due to volunteer and community support. In August 2011, Cantwell was CNN’s featured “CNN Hero—Everyday People Changing the World.”
Young mothers with breast cancer are faced with the challenge of providing continuous care to their children and families while undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Pink Daisy volunteers provide critical assistance to families by helping with grocery shopping, laundry upkeep, babysitting, meal preparation, and house cleaning. The organization has provided such relief for more than 150 women since its inception.
“Our mission is simple. We’re not funding a cure or seeking awareness. We only want to provide comfort,” said Cantwell. For more information on the Pink Daisy Project, visit their website.
The Hampton Room doors open at 11:45 a.m. Bring your own lunch or purchase lunch at the Malott Commons dining hall. Dessert and coffee are provided. For more information, contact the Malott Commons Office at 909.607.9372.