Celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month with The Pink Frog Foundation

Celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month with The Pink Frog Foundation

By Dr. Ondra Krouse Dismukes

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Celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month with The Pink Frog Foundation

By Dr. Ondra Krouse Dismukes

Breast cancer awareness month came in with a BANG, literally, as the Pink Frog Foundation hosted its annual night of music, dance, and poetry at the 2021 Pink Frog Affair on Friday, October 1. Not even “the COVID” could dampen the spirits of those participating in this virtual event, and what better way to usher in the holidays than by celebrating and giving thanks for life and love? This is exactly the vibe that the Pink Prog Foundation has brought to life since its inaugural ceremony in 2011. Now, some 10 years later, the Pink Frog Foundation continues to celebrate life and love through this annual celebration.

From the opening step routine performed by Step Afrika to the virtual after-party featuring DJ Stormy, the Pink Frog Affair continued its now ten-year tradition of celebrating the lives of breast cancer survivors and honoring the memory of those who have transitioned from this disease. When asked about the importance of celebrating through a platform of music, dance, and poetry, Pink Frog Foundation Co-Founder Tammy Bolton explains, “Most nonprofit organizations have fundraising breakfasts, luncheons, walks, balls, and galas. We wanted to think outside the box and do something different.” Mission accomplished!

The evening’s festivities featured other entertainment, including classically trained pianist and Professor Emeritus of Music at Spelman College, Dr. Joyce Johnson; Broadway actor, singer, and dancer Russell Joel Brown dancing to “Make Them Hear You;” Saunders Simmons singing “Sentimental Me;” poet Dichotomy performing with guitarist Desmond Champion; and three beautiful ladies known as The Sting Queens performing on violins and bass. These amazing performances merely whet the audience’s palette for the evening’s headline artist, Gospel singer Marvin Sapp, who acknowledged the loss of his wife 11 years ago not to breast cancer, but to another form of the disease.

A 24-year breast cancer survivor herself, Bolton and her husband, Robert - founder of RH Bolton, Inc., a successful public relations and event management agency in Atlanta, Georgia - established the Pink Frog Foundation to provide support for breast cancer patients and their families - hence the name Pink, in honor of breast cancer, and Frog, an acronym for Fully Rely on God. To this end, the annual Pink Frog Affair spotlights breast cancer survivors and their stories of triumph. This year’s event presented the testimonies from Wanda Butts Rice, who

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Celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month with The Pink Frog Foundation

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witnessed being nine months cancer-free after a double mastectomy. Butts thanked Bolton and the Pink Frog Foundation for arranging transportation for her to travel to and from chemotherapy. Sheryl Bogans, a stage three breast cancer survivor, shared the blessing she received from the Pink Frog Foundation in the form of transportation to and from surgery, as well as to and from follow-up treatments, while Andre Redding shared his victory over both breast and prostate cancer in 2017, reminding us that breast cancer is not just a woman’s disease. Still, as rates of breast cancer among African American women remain disproportionate to those among white women - and as the oldest of three girls, the mother of one daughter, and one who was diagnosed with breast cancer with no prior family history - Bolton remains steadfast in advising African American women, in particular, on the importance doing monthly breast self-examinations as early as 18 years of age and having annual mammograms as early as possible.

Actor, writer, comedian Jonathan Slocumb returned as this year’s year’s host, while Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant, Pastor of Newbirth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia, served as the Honorary Chair of the 2021 Pink Frog Affair. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated co-sponsored this year’s event and received the 2021 Pink Frog Legacy Award for its community advocacy of early breast cancer detection through mammograms using mobile mammography units to educate over one million women on breast cancer health. Other corporate sponsors included Amazon, Kroger, and AEE Productions, and A/V Services.

Bolton (pictured center) with husband and co-founder, Robert (pictured far left) and their daughter, Micah, (pictured far right).

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Following the Pink Frog Affair, I had the privilege of interviewing Bolton regarding her experiences both as a breast cancer survivor and as the Co-Founder of The Pink Frog Foundation. Here’s our conversation:

OKD: This year’s Pink Frog Affair celebrated its 10th anniversary and marked the second consecutive year that you have held the event virtually. How else has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the work of the Pink Frog Foundation?

TB: When the pandemic first hit in March 2020, we had to discontinue our maid service for 4 months until patients were comfortable letting the maid service provider back into their homes. In addition, we provided a one-time grant to a patient who had been furloughed.

OKD: How do you select the participants for this annual event?

TB: At the conclusion of each annual presentation of The Pink Frog Affair, we make note of local, regional, and national talent to be featured for the next year. In addition, we make an attempt to showcase breast cancer survivors who have received our services.

OKD: You were a single woman with no children when you were diagnosed with aggressive inflammatory breast cancer in 1997. 24 years later, how has your journey as a breast cancer survivor affected you as both a wife and a mother?

TB: As a wife, I have not been affected. Nothing changed in my marriage because we were dating when I was diagnosed. As a mother, I was affected from day one. I wanted to breastfeed my newborn daughter. By me only having one breast it was a challenge. My daughter Micah latched on the first couple of days then it became difficult. I became bruised and blistered with no way to switch breasts. The breastfeeding did not last. As a mother and survivor, I am constantly reminding my daughter to try and stay as healthy and continue her self-checks. She can start mammograms as early as 22 years of age (which is 10 years prior to when I was diagnosed).

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OKD: According to The Pink Frog Foundation website, your organization has as its mission providing emotional, social, and educational programming and increasing public awareness about the needs and issues facing individuals with breast cancer. What types of educational programming does the Pink Frog Foundation offer?

TB: Annually, I participate in various breast cancer programs, sharing my personal testimony and the services of the Pink Frog foundation. We are currently developing a collaboration with DeKalb County for a breast cancer awareness expo for spring 2022.

OKD: Given the tremendous turnout at this and prior year’s events, The Pink Frog Foundation is obviously impacting the lives of breast cancer patients through necessary physical and emotional support. As the Co-Founder of the organization and a breast cancer survivor, how has the Pink Frog Foundation affected your life?

TB: It gives me a sense of gratitude to be able to help other survivors that are traveling the same road. Also helps keep me on top of the latest protocols for treatment. It is a constant reminder of how far I have come as well as the advances in medicine. I am very thankful to God for his many blessings and his healing power.

OKD: What has been the most valuable lesson you have learned as a breast cancer survivor?

TB: I learned that doctors can only do so much. You must also put your faith and trust in God and know He can do anything but fail.

OKD: What is the future of the Pink Frog Foundation?

TB: The Foundation will continue to raise awareness as well as funds to support breast cancer patients undergoing treatment.

OKD: How can people support the Pink Frog Foundation?

TB: To find out more about The Pink Frog Foundation visit our website at www.thepinkfrogfoundation.org and select the donate button to contribute.