Dawn Hughes remembers the exact time and date she received her breast cancer diagnosis.
“May 27, 2016 at 10:05 a.m. that’s when I got the news,” Hughes said. “It was actually five months after I had just gotten married. I was also in a custody battle with my ex-husband over our two boys. I was traveling back and forth to Virginia. It was two battles at the same time.”
Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Hughes continued to put her best foot forward whenever she left the house, determined cancer wouldn’t slow her down. At the urging of a friend, Hughes watched YouTube videos of honey badgers. She felt an immediate connection when she learned honey badgers eat poisonous snakes but don’t die.
“I’ve had many adversities since I’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Hughes, whose Komen Central Indiana Race for the Cure team name is Honey Badgers in Pearls. She also is an ambassador for Susan G. Komen. “I’m tough and I can get through adversity all while being classy at the same.”
One in nine African-American women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually, and while Black women in Marion County are diagnosed less often than white women, more die from the disease, according to Rhonda Bayless, project manager for Sisters in Pink, an education program by Susan G. Komen that targets Black women. The 90-minute workshops are free.
“We go into churches and homes and community centers — any where anyone wants to do the presentations and workshops,” Bayless said.
Because Black women often receive a diagnosis in later stages of breast cancer and often have an aggressive form, education programs and conversations about breast cancer are vital, Bayless said.
“I share my story with other individuals to let them know it’s going to be OK,” Hughes said. “Now, it’s not going to be easy. You’re going to get mad. You’re going to get frustrated. You’re going to cry, and that’s OK. Let’s get through this together.”
About 25 friends and family members will join Hughes for Race for the Cure on Saturday at Historic Military Park at White River State Park. Rain canceled the event last year so this is Hughes’ first walk.
“I’m super, super, super excited,” Hughes said. “I got my team T-shirt in. I was wearing it around my house. I got my outfit. I got friends and family that are coming in from Maryland and Texas to join in the walk. I’m really excited about it.”
When: Saturday
7 a.m. Registration/packet pickup
9 a.m. Walk/run begins
Where: Historic Military Park at White River State Park
