Many people know that it was my beloved mother who first inspired me to work with the cancer community. (I lost her to cancer when I was a teenager) Many people also know that my dear friend, and co-founder, Natalie Johnson-Hatch is another source of inspiration for me. Natalie lost her 21-year-old brother to melanoma—the deadliest form of skin cancer. Upon learning of this and realizing that skin cancer is 90-95% preventable (unlike breast cancer which claimed my mother), I have since been an enthusiastic skin cancer prevention education advocate!
Recently, when doing some genealogy work, I discovered that my Great Grandpa Drake (my mother’s grandfather) died of melanoma.
Now, I realize why I have felt so prompted to be involved with skin cancer prevention. While it first began as a sincere desire to help my dear friend Natalie achieve her dream of a universally accepted Skin Cancer Awareness ribbon, and then grew into a passion for spreading a message of hope—skin cancer is an unnecessary epidemic; it is the spirit of those who have gone before who are sending their love and support, and who are, along with Heavenly Father, guiding me along the path. I just never knew that one of those melanoma warriors was my own flesh-and-blood; my Great Grandpa “Gramps” Drake who died the year I was born.
In honor of him (and his wife); in honor of all those touched by this deadly yet very preventable disease—
I shall continue to fight the good fight.
Love,
Danielle.
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