Our 2nd Annual More Than A Pink Ribbon Awards Event and 30th Anniversary Commemoration presented by Exact Sciences was held virtually on October 1st. We were so pleased to present awards to several outstanding Virginians to recognize their accomplishments in state and local breast cancer education and advocacy. We are grateful to all of our wonderful sponsors for making the More Than a Pink Ribbon Awards possible.
2021 Legislative Impact Award: The Honorable A. Donald McEachin
Congressman McEachin has represented Virginia’s 4th district in the US Congress since his election in 2016. Before his service in Congress, Representative McEachin served as a legislator in both chambers of Virginia’s General Assembly.
Representative McEachin is a leader on cancer-related issues and of breast cancer policy in particular. He has been a steadfast supporter of the US Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (DOD BCRP) in Congress. This innovative program invests the second-highest amount of funds in breast cancer research after the National Cancer Institute (NCI). It has brought over $45.8 million in grants to Virginia research institutions since its inception in 1993. The DOD BCRP has funded breakthroughs in treatments, diagnostics, and imaging, including the development of Herceptin to treat HER2+ breast cancer and the creation of 3-D mammography.
Congressman McEachin has also been a co-sponsor for the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act since its first introduction back in 2017. This bill would eliminate the waiting period for Social Security and Medicaid benefits for those with metastatic breast cancer. Waiving these waiting periods would allow patients to get the health care they need sooner and help lessen the stress and financial burden they are facing.
“I commend the VBCF for its incredible contributions to support women and men who suffer from breast cancer. I will continue to advocate and fight for policies that bring solutions out of Congress to tackle cancer. I know that through our joint efforts, we will continue to make strides together to fight against this deadly disease.”
Congressman A. Donald McEachin
2021 Community Champion Award: Cheryl Tankersley, Planet Hair
“Working with women with breast cancer is my passion. I always say that the need for the wig is what brings them in. But, I want to offer them compassion, give them hope, and reassure them that “You can do this, girl!’ It’s so much more than just getting a wig!”
Cheryl Tankersley, Planet Hair
Cheryl Tankersley opened Planet Hair Salon in 1997. In 2010, she began working with women with breast cancer and helping them with their hair loss needs by providing them with custom wigs. Now, over 90% of her clients are women with cancer. Planet Hair offers services for cancer patients in a private room in her salon to make their experience the most comfortable she can. Cheryl offers a free consultation to help educate patients on what to expect and when to expect the hair loss to begin. She explains the different types of wigs and the benefits and drawbacks of each type and most of all, helps make it fun for women to make their selections.
“As a breast cancer survivor, I know firsthand how emotional it can be to lose your hair during chemotherapy. Having Cheryl by your side as a calming, knowledgeable ally makes a huge difference. She radiates warmth and empathy and serves her clients in any way she is able to help. Her compassion goes beyond hair.”
VBCF Board Member Tara Daudani
2021 Sherry Kohlenberg Lifetime Achievement in Health Care
This award is given in memory of Sherry Kohlenberg, a dedicated healthcare administrator and co-founder of the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation who passed away from breast cancer in 1993.
David Trent was born and raised in Union, Ohio, and he received his BS in Biology from the University of Cincinnati. He received his PhD in physiology and subsequently his medical degree from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, where he specialized in medical oncology. In 1992, he left VCU for private practice at Henrico Doctors Hospital (HDH). While at HDH, he helped found the multidisciplinary tumor conference, which has met every Wednesday for nearly thirty years. This conference was the first of its type at HDH and brought together medical, surgical, and radiation oncology, radiology, pathology, and social services. These conferences include a case presentation of each newly diagnosed patient in order to create an optimal and individualized treatment plan. This multidisciplinary approach is now the standard of care for all cancer patients and continues to this day at HDH.
Dr. Trent also served as the medical director of the Center for Breast Care at HDH and as a physician with the Virginia Cancer Institute from 1996 until his retirement earlier this year. Dr. Trent was voted a “Top Doc” in oncology by Richmond Magazine’s readers six years in a row. He also won the Bedside Manner Award from “Our Health Virginia” multiple times.
“My biggest contribution to health care was my participation in Henrico Doctors Hospital’s (HDH) multidisciplinary breast cancer team. In the 1990’s, a multidisciplinary team was a novel concept. Back then, patients had to go from one doctor, to the next and the next and then the doctors sort of communicated with each other to develop a treatment plan. It worked okay, but it was not optimal. HDH adopted the breast cancer conference model in 1994 and it became the hallmark of how breast cancer is treated. All team members: from radiation oncology, surgical oncology and social services are in one room. It’s now the standard of care.”
Dr. David Trent
