Note: Written by Severina Ware, NBCF Director of Volunteer Services
As the Director of Volunteer Services within National Breast Cancer Foundation, I am uniquely positioned to witness a community come together firsthand in service of Helping Women Now. For the last 4 years, I’ve worked with volunteers from all walks of life who have graced NBCF headquarters to be a part of the work we do with our programs and community outreach.
In honor of Black History Month, I’ve reflected on the presence of the Black women who support our mission through their time and engagement. What started as volunteerism has transformed into something much more meaningful.
It’s sisterhood.
These women arrive with shared purpose, but they stay because of shared experience. In volunteer spaces, Community HOPE Kit Packing Parties, and community building, I’ve watched bonds form organically. They laugh loudly, cry freely, and hold space for one another in ways that feel both sacred and necessary. Many come carrying personal connections to breast cancer, whether it’s their own diagnoses, or their mothers, sisters, or friends—and yet, they choose to transform that hurt or uncertainty into action and hope for others.
Karen is a long-time NBCF volunteer, a registered nurse, and a breast cancer survivor. She has seen firsthand how community, connection, and support can change lives, especially within the Black community:
“NBCF’s commitment to empowering women through education, early detection, and community support aligns directly with the values I hold as a nurse, a survivor, and a woman of faith. When I connected with NBCF, I found more than resources—I found sisterhood, reassurance, and purpose. Being part of this mission allows me to turn my experience into service and to stand alongside other women, encouraging them to prioritize their health and use their voices. When our voices are heard and respected, care improves—and outcomes change.”
What is especially powerful is how this sisterhood ignites impact. NBCF Chief Program Officer, Douglas Feil highlights that action is paramount because “for decades, Black women have been dying of breast cancer at a higher rate than White women.”
Coretta, a loyal NBCF volunteer, shares her thoughts on how racial disparities in breast cancer affect her and her community:
“As an African American woman, NBCF’s mission holds particular significance to me. Our community, unfortunately, experiences a disproportionately high rate of breast cancer diagnoses at late stages. This is often coupled with limited visibility or awareness about the critical need for proactive health measures. There’s a pervasive tendency within our community to prioritize the needs of our families above our own health, often ignoring warning signs or delaying screenings until it might be too late.”
Together, Coretta and her fellow NBCF volunteers are turning action into purpose by championing early detection and screening in Black communities that have historically faced barriers to access, trust, and care. They are educators, advocates, and bridge builders—meeting women where they are with compassion and cultural understanding. They celebrate milestones, pour into each other, and push one another to be visible in spaces where representation truly matters.
In a world that often asks Black women to be strong in isolation, I’ve witnessed them choose strength in togetherness. They remind me daily that community is built through shared care.
Long-time NBCF volunteer and breast cancer survivor, Diane, shares how her story of experiencing breast cancer in isolation has impacted the way she gives of her time now:
“When I was diagnosed in 2015, I became overwhelmed with everything I learned in the months following my diagnosis. I had no one to talk to or cry with, no friends who had experienced it. Support is so very important. I am very proud to help NBCF carry out its mission. Whenever I pack tea bags, count inventory, proofread encouragement cards, or pack HOPE Kits, I know I am helping a woman in the way I needed help all those years ago.”
This sisterhood is more than a moment—it’s a movement of love, resilience, and collective strength. The impact they create reaches far beyond our walls and into the lives of countless women who need to feel seen, supported, and held. We honor you. We celebrate you. And we thank you for nurturing a sisterhood of hope at NBCF.
National Breast Cancer Foundation is here for you as you navigate a breast cancer diagnosis. Visit our website to learn about NBCF breast cancer support groups, obtain free educational resources, or find a patient navigator in your area.
Donations are always appreciated, but there are lots of great ways to get involved.
