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The
world's largest Pink Ribbon in Times
Square. 12:15 AM. Photo:
JH.
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There
are two things that always come to mind when I see Evelyn Lauder. First – what
a nice lady she is, always courteous, always with a warm smile.
And actually two other things
— I wonder what it’s like to work for her, because
this is a lady who covers a lot of territory and gets a lot done
daily.
And the other thing I think of is: Breast Cancer Research, for
that is Evelyn Lauder’s creation and it’s turned into
an enormous contribution to the community and to the world.
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Evelyn
Lauder
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Today was the
annual Breast Cancer Research Foundation luncheon at the Waldorf
in the Grand Ballroom. They were full up, right up to the second
balcony. I’ve only seen that twice before in this grand old
Art Deco ballroom. One was the Metropolitan Opera Guild’s
luncheon honoring Luciano Pavarotti and the other
was last year’s
annual Breast Cancer Research Gala dinner where Sir Elton
John performed in concert for almost an hour
for the guests.
Among the prominent New Yorkers present today were: Gail
Hilson, Anne Eisenhower Flottl, Audrey Gruss, Pauline Pitt, Grace
Meigher,
Jamee Gregory, Thorunn Wathne, Nan Kempner, Muffy Miller, Jessie
Araskog, Faith Geier, Barbara Tober, Betty Sherrill, Princess Firyal,
Lady Sharon Harel-Cohen, Elizabeth Rohatyn, Barbara Goldsmith,
Peggy Race, Renee Rockefeller, Betsy Gotbaum, Sir Ronald Cohen,
Kim Serratore, Arnold Scaasi, Parker Ladd, Anne Bass, Muriel Siebert,
Liz Robbins, Diane Tuft, Hilary Califano, Nicole Limbocker, Michele
Herbert, Norma Dana, Judith Agisim, Nazee Moinian, Bonnie Lautenberg,
Jane and Erin Lauder, Gigi Mortimer, and Marshall
Rose.
So it’s down to Pavarotti and Evelyn Lauder who can really
fill up that room. Mrs. Lauder started the Breast Cancer Research
Foundation about twelve years ago. In the past ten years they’ve
raised 98 million dollars for research. And they are proud to
say that of all the money they’ve raised, 85% or more of
each dollar actually goes directly to research. At first they had
the administrative costs down to 15 cents out of every dollar.
This year it was a little more than 12 cents out of every dollar.
In their BCRF office, the whole organization is packed into one
small room. Twelve of them do everything. Everything, meaning selling
tickets to filling enormous hotel ballrooms, staging all kinds
of fund-raisers including these big ones, and god knows what else. |
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The
Breast Cancer Research Foundation luncheon at the Waldorf in
the Grand Ballroom
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At
the luncheon today, they opened with a welcome from Myra
Biblowit who is the president of BCRF. She
introduced a video. They honored Carole Black, the president
and CEO of Lifetime Television. Libby
Pataki, the governor’s very articulate and gracious
wife, presented her with the Humanitarian Award.
Ms. Black, in
her acceptance said how she was amazed by Evelyn Lauder. This woman,
besides having been a fulltime executive with the family company for the past
forty years, and raising two sons (one of them, William, is now head of the company)
and participating with her husband Leonard in many many philanthropic and social
activities in New York, and founding and raising BCRF and the funds for it, is
also out there helping women who’ve been diagnosed.
Carole Black said she personally knew of many women, even strangers
whom Evelyn
Lauder’s helped – calling, offering counsel, making calls to specialists,
paving the way for treatment, hope, and recovery. I too, personally know women
who’ve received those calls and I’m sure there were many others in
the room today who knew of this assistance. |
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Libby
Pataki and Dr. Michael Bishop
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Liz
Rohatyn and Lady Harel-Cohen |
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So
there we were at the luncheon, and it was very upbeat despite
the potentially morbid seriousness of the subject. Something
like $12 million was raised for the cause in the past year,
and they were honoring and presenting grant awards for this
year to eighty-nine or ninety doctors for their breast cancer
research.
And the doctors were all there too; they’d come from all over the United
States. They were all introduced, one by one, by Mrs. Lauder and her co-moderator
for the luncheon, Rene Syler (of CBS News' The Early Show).
They came up and took their place on the stage and when the introductions were
complete, the room gave
them a standing ovation.
They’ve not found a cure yet but they’ve made great, very
great strides.
There is now a 97.5% total recovery rate among those who’ve had early diagnosis.
I know seven women who have been diagnosed in the past three years and all of
them have recovered. One of them was sitting next to me at lunch. She, like Evelyn
Lauder and many others, has also helped friends of mine with counseling and advice.
Another is Rochelle Hirsch, JH’s mother, who has also helped many, including
friends of mine, go through the process to recovery. |
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My
mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. Today,
she is free and clear of the disease. My mother was one of
the lucky ones. I was one of the lucky ones.
She just got the finishing touches put on, a tattooed areola,
and now she feels whole once again. During her ordeal,
her mind and body were totally dedicated to beating cancer, leaving
no room
to
reflect
on the whole process, to draw back, recount, and just plain
LET
IT OUT. This was the one thing keeping her from finally moving
on.
So, a few months ago,
late one night, her emotions finally gave way.
And she sculpted this cathartic
moment
onto paper in the form of a poem. For me
these words carry with them sadness, humour, strength, and
most importantly hope. Since this month is National
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought it would
be appropiate to share my mother's collective story with
you.
- Jeff Hirsch
It
was May 28th 2002
For a routine mammogram, I was due
Imagine the shock and complete
surprise
As my Doctor couldn’t believe what was before
her eyes |
Breast
cancer was not what I had in mind
Colon cancer was certainly
more my family kind
How could this happen to a woman like
me?
Breast cancer is non discriminatory – it knows no
boundary |
My
life was thrown into chaos, crisis and transformation
Margins, lymph nodes and biopsies became my conversation
And just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse
Mastectomy and chemo became my new verse |
The
chemo had to be given quick and strong
And then it didn’t
take very long
17 days later, I truly was in despair
17 days later, I had lost
all of my hair |
I
was a woman who put emphasis on her looks
Did I have enough
substance – had I read the right books?
Would people
be uncomfortable – could they look me in the eye?
Or
would they be thinking, “If it were me, I’d
rather die!” |
The
shame and humiliation that I went through
Known only
to a special few
The stupid calls from people wanting
to meet me just to see
How I wished it was them, and not me
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My
life was in disarray, but I made a vow
That my three children would never know how
Difficult it was to face the world with a smile
How difficult it was to go that extra mile
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Friday
night dinners at our home were a site to see
David,
Jason, Jeffrey, Stefanie, Casper and little bald me
Each
week with a different colored ribbon on my head
Each week
with so much love unspoken, unsaid
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I
was fortunate to have my husband by my side
Strong and supportive during that bumpy ride
Never making me feel self conscious, in fact telling me with great zest
That my old breasts were never winning any beauty contest!
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It
would have been impossible to get through this alone
Without
the support and inspiration from friends in person
or on the phone
I was thrown into my fate with no instruction
Little
did I realize I would end up with a breast reduction!
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So
now I’m as perky as I could be
But when I hear
the word “Survivor” it has a different
connotation for me
When life throws you lemons, you
make lemonade
And I’m beginning to learn that
bad memories do fade
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When
my children asked me what I wanted for Mother’s
Day
A comb and mascara was all I had to say
Because it was God
who gave me my biggest gift
By going through chemo without
ever being sick
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You
dear friends have been a part of my fight
Many of you
have helped me make it through the night
This language
of experience I’ve just begun to learn
Will enable me
to help the next one, when it unfortunately is their turn |
You
can go through life and never be changed
Or you can have
your life unexpectedly rearranged
In a way this poem is
allowing me to release
So I may continue my next step with strength,
dignity and peace |
Like “The
Man of La Mancha,” I’ve had my quest
Little
did I know it would be my breasts
So when I dream “The
Impossible Dream”
It is for health and happiness
and all that they mean |
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