Celebrating Survivors

A Story of love and support

Saundra Robinson was a brand-new newlywed when she and her loving husband Marcus went to her annual mammogram. Her heart began to pound when the radiologist said she was suspicious of “white spots.” Marcus held her hand even tighter as she recommended a biopsy be done to confirm or rule-out her suspicions.

What the radiologist delivered was devastating news; Robinson had breast cancer.

Marcus became her stalwart pillar as they worked with their health care team to devise a treatment plan. Susan G. Komen for the Cure became his number-one source of information about breast cancer, treatment options, support groups and finding the right resources. Developing a treatment plan can be overwhelming, but the resources Komen for the Cure provided were instrumental in educating the Robinsons.

As a marathon runner, one question Robinson had was whether she would be able to run another marathon again. Her surgeon said, “Absolutely, but you must give yourself time to heal.”

Robinson did go on to run the inaugural Colfax marathon, which was her 11th marathon. Not just any marathon runner, Robinson ran the marathon with cancer in her breast tissue and a broken toe, which she injured while carrying her youngest grandson down the stairs. This didn’t stop Robinson from completing her goal of finishing the marathon under 6:00:00.

The next day, she faced an even more daunting task. She lost both her breasts to a double mastectomy. As Robinson stated, “My breasts have never defined who I am as a woman, so it was easy to let them go. Marcus loved me for me, and not for my breasts. The decision was made.”

Five months after her double mastectomy Robinson was running her 12th marathon in Tucson, Arizona. Her toe has healed, and her reconstruction has been completed. And as she hopes, her cancer is gone.

“There are days when life gets so busy that I forget that I’m a survivor. However what I don’t forget is that “I am the Cure” because I tell my story at every chance,” said Robinson.

 “Every year I look into the ocean of pink at the Denver Race for the Cure and marvel at the support, love and remembrance for everyone touched by breast cancer and know that with every step, we move closer to finding a cure. With every step, we can do anything,” said Robinson.

Celebrate the survivor in your life!

We all have those special days that we celebrate or commemorate every year — birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, Memorial Day — but breast cancer survivors and their families have added another day to that list: the day they or their loved one was declared cancer-free.

Some share their special day every year at the Komen Denver Race for the Cure®, while others reflect and mark this milestone in private on their birthday, the day they finished chemotherapy, or at the end of the year.

Today, many are choosing to share their special day with family, friends and their favorite charity. Join us today in celebrating your loved one's special day.