Celebrating life by saving lives

In May, 2009, we shared the story of Sloane Six, a young mother of one energetic 6-year old who was just making the transition from breast cancer patient to breast cancer survivor. At the time, Sloane was getting ready to take her first triumphant walk down the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum during the Survivors Parade of Pink at the annual Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure®. Hair still short and growing in after chemo, Sloane walked joyfully with her son Skylar by her side in a pink t-shirt designed to imitate a prescription pad from the oncology department at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania that proudly proclaimed, "I Am Cured, Sloane Six, Survivor!"


Since her diagnosis in February 2008 and being proclaimed breast-cancer free in December, 2008, Sloane has devoted her life to empowering as many women as possible to make that same, triumphant walk and declaration, "I Am Cured!" Further more, in her breast cancer mission, she strives to help assure women of the future never even get to the point of having to be cured because the disease will be eradicated from the world in which we live.

 

"I knew other women who had the disease, and I heard them say how their breast cancer journey not only changed their life, but enriched it," said Sloane. "I understood to an extent, but still, I just couldn't grasp how such a horrible disease could possibly bring fulfillment to anyone... until I took the journey myself, and especially after I connected with the Philadelphia Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, where I not only found support, but I found opportunities to give back and help other women less fortunate than myself."

 

To that end Sloane has become a devoted activist in numerous breast cancer initiatives, especially in her volunteer work with, and fundraising for, the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate. In fact, this October she delighted in seeing twelve months of planning, management and creativity come to fruition at the Komen Philadelphia Pink Tie Ball, an event she co-chaired with her husband, Scott Clemens. Sloane put so much energy into the event, and brought so many new resources to the table, The Affiliate openly credits her with taking our event into a new era of elegance and fun, as well as increasing its fundraising potential by tens-of-thousands of dollars.

 

Outside of the Ball, Sloane volunteers for other Affiliate events, helps them forge new relationships with potential sponsors, speaks at outreach events, and, of course, she and Skylar continue to co-captain "Skylar's Neeya Team" for the Race each Mother's Day. To date, the team has raised upwards of $65,000 to help fight breast cancer.  Beyond the fundraising, the team of Sloane, Scott and Skylar inspires thousands with their message that all generations have a role to play in the fight against breast cancer.

 

"The past three years have deepened my understanding of what other breast cancer survivors were trying to convey to me all those years ago... about how much breast cancer brings into your life. Yes, it is a horrible disease that pretty much took twelve months out of my life. But those few months are nothing compared to the lifetime I have ahead of me now, a life where my family and I are united in truly making a difference in creating a world without breast cancer."

 

The Komen Philadelphia Affiliate thanks Sloane, Scott and Skylar for taking our Pink Tie Ball beyond all expectations, as well as for their incredible activism, generous hearts, compassion, passion and conviction in the cures.

 

Photo Caption: Sloane Six, her husband, Scott Clemens and their son Skylar, Co-Chairs of the 2010 Komen Philadelphia Pink Tie Ball