Dorothy: [00:00:00] How do you continue a family tradition that started with a heartfelt connection? Greer and Mia and their family have a powerful story to share. It began with a bracelet sale that turned into a fundraiser for The Rose. But it’s more than raising money. It’s about honoring a loved one’s memory and making a difference. Learn how these teenage sisters brought awareness to a critical issue and inspired all of us here at The Rose.
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Let’s Talk About Your Breast, a different kind of podcast presented to you by The Rose. A breast center of excellence and a Texas treasure. You’re gonna hear frank discussions about tough topics, and you’re gonna learn why knowing [00:01:00] about your breast could save your life.
Greer Tell me, what did you do to raise this money?
Greer: I reached out to a lot of my family friends, and then a lot of my just like close, I guess just my closest friends and I asked them if they could spread this for me ’cause it’s really close to me. Like it’s a special place in my heart. And then also because my sister did this as well and I, I think that also meant a lot to me ’cause I look up to her a lot. And continuing this like from her and then kind of through me especially, it meant a lot to me. ’cause also this is something my dad works for. And um, in that aspect I, I wanna make him proud and then also my family. So.
Dorothy: So take us all the way back. Take us back to when your sister did this and why. Tell me the backstory, why are, why did you do this?
Greer: Back to, gosh, I don’t really remember like that much whenever my sister did it. I think she was also around the same age as me.
Dorothy: Mm-hmm.
Greer: But um.
Dorothy: And [00:02:00] how old are you?
Greer: I am 15 right now.
Dorothy: Okay.
Greer: Yes ma’am. And then she’s 18, but I believe she was also 15 when she did it around that age. Um, I think definitely just her giving me the idea helped a lot, but it, um, it, it was like a long process. Not, not necessarily though. It took us like, I think a week to raise the money, but it felt like. It, it felt so short. ’cause I just think, honestly, a little part of me wanted to continue it a little. ’cause I, it kind of like gave me like a little excitement. Like doing this is just like, oh, it’s so fun to sell. But it’s, then it’s also like, you can’t forget, like the main reason why you’re doing this is to help women who can’t afford the treatment and to get resources like this. So it’s just, it was exciting to do it, honestly.
Dorothy: So you had a raffle?
Greer: Yes ma’am. I had $1,800. Or a Louis Vuitton person. You could have the option to that. But each ticket I sold was $30, so it was 30 per ticket. And so I would just tell people we’re doing this raffle to help The [00:03:00] Rose to raise money for women who can’t afford treatment. And you can either like 30 per ticket and it’s either $1,800 or your choice of the purse.
Dorothy: Oh, okay. Wow. That was a deal.
Greer: Right?
Dorothy: Yeah. Yeah. So this has become a family tradition almost. And, tell me again, uh, how did this get started? Because you didn’t have breast cancer, your sister didn’t have breast cancer, your mother didn’t. Why did you have this interest?
Greer: Um, so one of my mom’s, like closest friends I know, they grew up together and, uh, they lived like a little bit together. And, um, she had breast cancer and she, she fought a lot. And, um, I just think it’s like close to me because she, I mean, she was always like around us. She always kind of cared for us, like. We like, she would like her own kid or like somebody really close to her. And someone being that close to my mom was really close to me because of the way she looked out for me, and I always looked up to her because also my mom tells [00:04:00] me a lot that I resemble her in a way because of the way I act. Like she said, the way that Sonya, her name was Sonya. The way that Sonya like, um, I guess her confidence, like her whole um, I guess being her being there, it’s just so, I mean, I think, I think that touches me a lot for my mom to be able to say that. And, um, I just, I always looked up to her. She was so sweet. She was so kind. She always had something, she always lit up a room, like immediately. She, you, she walked in, she lit up a room.
Dorothy: Mm. And she died from the disease, right?
Greer: Yes, ma’am.
Dorothy: She wasn’t able to beat it. We need to know just how this, you as the older sister, how you inspired your younger sister to do this incredible fundraiser.
Mia: So I think, how long ago was it? Five, six years ago?
Dorothy: Mm-hmm.
Mia: We. Did a fundraiser and I sold these little bracelets to everybody. They’re like $2 a piece. And we were able to [00:05:00] raise enough money for two mammograms.
Dorothy: And that was amazing. I mean, you are our, our featured story of the whole year. We loved it. Well, you know, we said if you could do it then if a 15-year-old could raise this and everybody could do this, so, and now here we are. All these years later And you’ve done very much the same thing, except you went a little bit higher.
Mia: Yes, ma’am.
Dorothy: By, by, by having this raffle for, what was it?
Greer: A purse or $1,800.
Dorothy: So they were $30 a ticket.
Greer: Yes ma’am.
Dorothy: And you, you sold these for how long?
Greer: I think the course was like four days, right?
Tina: Yes.
Dorothy: Oh my goodness.
Tina: We only had a hundred tickets in the Raffles, so.
Dorothy: Oh wow.
Greer: Yes ma’am.
Dorothy: Hey, if she could raise this much money in four days now folks, then mom would tell us why this is important to you.
Tina: Sonya was my best friend and then losing her to cancer like that was really [00:06:00] difficult ’cause that was my person. So, um. For them to honor her in a way that, uh, sorry.
Dorothy: No, that’s okay.
Tina: That, um, I think it’s really special and sweet and kind because she was, she was the kind of person that lit up the room and, uh, you know, the, my, one of my favorite pictures of her was when she was walking into treatment and she had on these cute Luis Vuiton like heels and her gown, and she’s like, you know, just, just always smiling. Always smiling no matter what was going on. So I can’t think of a better person on her and another, and.
Dorothy: Mm-hmm.
Tina: For them to do that means a lot. So.
Dorothy: And sonya was fairly young?
Tina: Uh, yeah. I think, um, she was 30. Late thirties, I think. Um. How old am I? I’m gonna have to lie real quick. I think she was 37.
Dorothy: But I, but I think the reason I wanted you to, to tell [00:07:00] us her age was there was a time when young girls didn’t know about breast cancer. They had no idea that it even existed. And it’s just so important because not only did each of you raise that money, which is going to help someone who desperately needs it, but you also educated others, you brought awareness and, and a subject that not a lot of young women are easy talking about, you know? Because you had this incredible desire. And, you did. So congratulate yourself.
Greer: Thank you so much.
Dorothy: Be proud of yourself.
Greer: Thank you.
Dorothy: And we thank you so much for all of this. This really means a lot.
Tina: To us as well.
Dorothy: Mm-hmm.
Post-Credits: Thank you for joining us today on Let’s Talk About Your Breasts. This podcast is produced by Speke Podcasting, and brought to you by The Rose. Visit therose.org to learn more about our organization. Subscribe to our podcast, share episodes with friends, and join the conversation on social [00:08:00] media using #LetsTalkAboutYourBreasts. We welcome your feedback and suggestions. Consider supporting The Rose. Your gift can make the difference to a person in need. And remember, self care is not selfish. It’s essential.
