Mount Pleasant Magazine Sept/Oct 2013

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Lobbying for the Cure: Bonnie Hancock
Ten years ago, Bonnie
Hancock found out that she
had breast cancer. One year
later, she attended the Susan G.
Komen Survivor Celebration
with a friend. She promptly
decided, after being inspired by
fellow survivors, to “volunteer
her time vigorously.”
“Nine years ago, I started
volunteering by helping with
survivor luncheons, helping with leadership conferences and
lobbying for research money,” she said.
Bonnie currently serves on the board for Komen’s
Lowcountry branch, where she stays highly involved in
collecting funds for the organization. This month, she is
helping to produce the second fundraiser at Wild Dunes.
Sponsored by the Wild Dunes Tennis Association, it features
tennis, golf and a silent auction – all for the sake of the
ladies who are fighting a breast cancer battle.
“We raised over $16,000 last year,” said Bonnie. “The
way I look at it is, that’s over 160 mammograms for women
who aren’t able to afford it.”
Bonnie spoke about how important it is to accept help
from other people, as well as to give help when it’s needed
– especially when it comes to something as life-changing as
breast cancer.
“It’s sometimes tough for people to accept help,” she
commented. “But other women who have dealt with it
have the same issues and anxieties. When it comes to being
around survivors, you know you’re sitting with sisters.”
Creating Family in Charleston – and in theWorld:
Jenny Haslam
Jenny Haslam contemplated
leaving the Lowcountry before
she realized that she’d developed
her own support group. Origi-
nally from the Midwest, Jenny
came to the Charleston area
“for an adventure after college,”
she said, and got a job teaching
preschool. She was diagnosed
with breast cancer in March of
this year.
Throughout her experience, Jenny’s colleagues at the
preschool have been there for her. In fact, Jenny’s young
students have been there as well. She described how the
summer has been tougher than the academic year because
she hasn’t had the chance to interact with her students.
“During the school year, I would get up, go to work,
laugh and have fun with them,” she said. “And it’s been cool
to see my co-workers band together with me and pray with
me. It brings everyone together.”
Jenny started a blog about her experience, which she said
has been “really therapeutic.”
“Strangers have been reading it and emailing me,” she
remarked. “Everyone has been affected by breast cancer in
some way.”
She paused thoughtfully. “For me, there has to be a pur-
pose. I want to return the encouragement I’ve received and
help other young women.”
The Gift of Friends: Jessica ottmers
There is no good time to
receive the diagnosis of cancer,
certainly not when you’re busy
building a life and playing with
a 2-year-old. And not when
your family is far away.
But cancer did interrupt Jes-
sica Ottmers’ busy life at age 34,
in the form of a tiny pebble-like
lump. What had been a “let’s
wait and see” became a “stage
1.” Even though Jessica had no real risk factors, she had an
uneasy feeling that the lump might be something.
The cure, a lumpectomy plus chemo and radiation, was
no fun, but the black cloud of cancer often brings a silver
lining – the support and care of friends and the encourage-
ment of survivors. It also taught her that life is to be cher-
ished and to enjoy each moment.
“I had no family here but we had good friends who
helped,” Jessica said. “My husband is a chef, and he had the
flexibility to change his schedule to be home in the evenings
to care for Sophie. It was a blessing.”
Jessica carries that blessing forward to help those on the
journey to survival through organizations that help women
fight the battle. She currently serves as co-navigator and war-
rior liaison for Warriors 4 Warriors. She finds comfort and
strength laced with friendship with “a wonderful group of
survivors.”
“I am on the board of the Warriors 4 Warriors Founda-
tion,” she said. “I met (founder) Leslie Crawford Moore in
the chemo chair, and we have been friends ever since.”
Life carries more meaning for Jessica now. Even daugh-
ter Sophie, now 6, likes to help and “gets excited about the
pink ribbon.”
“I learned how precious life is and not to take it for