Divas for a Cure Benefits Breast Cancer Research

When most of us hear the word "diva" we imagine Diana Ross or Celine Dion waltzing out on a stage.

Well, the Divas For A Cure are a group of outstanding performers in their own right. These Divas participated in their third year of riding across the country on motorcycles to raise funds for breast cancer research. Divas For A Cure (DFAC) is a service-based nonprofit organization dedicated to raising cancer awareness through early detection, education, screenings and supporting research for eradicating cancer.

“This year the Divas For A Cure Breast Cancer Motorcycle Run will took place from mid July to early August and will involved travel from Atlanta to Canada, Canada to the East Coast, and then went back to Atlanta. The Divas raised $25,000 and $50,000 the first two years of the ride. On October 25, Divas for a Cure held a check presentation at a Harley-Davidson dealership in Lakewood, N.J. The Divas presented M. D. Anderson with a check for $35,000, bringing their total to $110,000 in the fight against breast cancer.

After the ride, we will bring the money to Houston,” said Jan Emanuel-Costley, DFAC founder, “I just couldn’t imagine going anywhere else if I had a choice.”

Organizers selected M. D. Anderson to receive the funds after working very closely with Vickie Shannon, M.D. Anderson professor of Pulmonary Medicine. Shannon was asked by organizers to be their sponsor at M. D. Anderson.

She had not met the fundraising Divas until they arrived at M. D. Anderson last year with their second donation.

“I walked outside here on a Saturday and there was this group of beautiful African-American people wearing black leather,” said Shannon, “This was very different than what M. D Anderson was used to.”

Shannon added that she expected to see donors in three piece suits and stockings. Divas For A Cure changed that stereotype for Shannon. “It just goes to show you that donations come in from all walks of life and from all different kinds of people,” she said, “Sometimes, they come in riding on motorcycles.”

Emanuel-Costley started the nonprofit through encouragement from her boss. Emanuel-Costley went through a personal experience of successfully surviving two tumors in her head and one in her chest. Forming this grassroots organization was a way to channel some of her anger associated with that experience as well as to heal from the loss of her Aunt Mary who died in 2000 after a two-year battle with breast cancer. DFAC strives to reach and educate all communities about breast cancer, she said.

“We try to make sure we are reaching out to all communities, especially the African American and Hispanic communities,” said Emanuel-Costley.

These communities, who actually have the highest incidence rate for breast cancer, she added, tend to be less informed about the disease than white women. “I have met a lot of women at church and other places who have had breast cancer but don’t talk about it,” she said, “I have had so many women come identify with us because we look like them.”

This year’s ride will kicked off on July 19 in Atlanta, and will took approximately 18 days to complete the 5,010-mile journey. The riders spent about 14 of those days on the ground, averaged about 300 to 500 miles a day and were in the saddle for approximately eight hours a day, said Emanuel-Costley. During the motorcycle run the Divas were scheduled to take part in the Annual National Bikers Roundup held this year in Pennsylvania.

The core group of riders is made up of three Divas who will be accompanied by road captains from the National Association of Buffalo Soldiers & Troopers Motorcycle Club. Members of local Buffalo Soldier chapters will escort the riders in and out of their major stopping points.