The Influential Life of Nancy G.

Brinker










Jenna Doyle
5-27-14
1
st

Mrs. Rogers
English

Nancy G. Brinker would never be the same again. Her sister, Susan, at the age of 33,
was diagnosed with breast cancer. She died at the age of 36 after three long and vigorous years
of battling. Before she passed, Nancy promised her she would do anything and everything in
her power to boost breast cancer awareness. So that is what she did. Nancy Goodman Brinker
was one of the most influential people that ever lived. She saved millions of womens lives by
bringing breast cancer out of the shadows and creating an organization to educate and raise
money for a cure.
Nancy was born on December 6, 1946 in Peoria IL. Her father, Marvin, was a
commercial real estate developer. Her mother, Eleanor, was a Girl Scout leader and
Community Activist. Her mothers maiden name was Newman. In Nancys early childhood, she
was a tomboy. She also loved horseback riding. Growing up, she struggled with dyslexia. This
made it harder to focus, read and write at school. Despite this disability, Nancy graduated and
completed collage at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. After finishing college, she
started her career at Neiman- Marcus in Public Relations and Broadcasting. Nancy then married
Robert Leitstein and had a son, Eric. They later divorced. After getting divorced, she remarried
to Norman E. Brinker who is a restaurant chain founder/owner. They got married in 1981.
Nancy did not have an easy life. For example, Nancy in 1983 was diagnosed with breast cancer
just like her sister. She then got a double mastectomy and after that a lot of chemo. She
though, unlike her sister, was cured. I believed this pushed her even more in her fight against
breast cancer.
Nancy has earned many awards and accomplishments. For example, Nancy became
known worldwide because in 1983 she founded the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
foundation that raises and donates a lot of money for research to find a cure for breast cancer.
This event takes place all over the country and is the single biggest fundraiser for breast cancer
in the world. Nancy received a lot of awards for making this foundation and for just doing
good things for society. For example, in 2001-2003 Nancy was the United States Ambassador to
Hungary. She also according to Time Magazine in 2008 was one of the top 100 most influential
people in the world. That is a very big achievement that she takes pride in but also deserved.
Nancy in 2007-2009 was President George W. Bushs White House Chief of Protocol. This is an
honor because out of all of the people in the U.S., she inspired him and got chosen for this job.
Another big award she got was in 2009 President Obama presented her with the Presidential
Medal of Freedom for all of her hard work to help find a cure for breast cancer. She also was
awarded with the Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control for the United Nations World Health
Organization. She also accomplished what she wanted to do for her sister. When Nancy
Brinker, 61, meets with her sister, Susan G. Komen, on the other side of the pearly gates, she
will be able to say, I did what you asked. The foundation Nancy established after her sister
died of breast cancer in her in 30s has become a household name around the globe. (Time
Magazine page 1 paragraph 1)
Nancy Goodman Brinker made a huge impact on society today. The biggest thing that
she did at first was just making people aware of breast cancer. Before Nancy, breast cancer was
not publically talked about, nothing was said in newspapers or ads on television. Nancy broke
this silence and now breast cancer is very well known. The Race for the Cure is very well-known
and takes place in a lot of locations. Since it is so well known, lots of people come and it makes
lots of money for breast cancer research. It has raised over 180 million dollars. The Race for the
Cure is the interpretation of what Nancy thought Susan would want her to do. It is a race (5K)
that you walk or run and you pay to do and the proceeds go to cancer research. Before the Race
for the Cure, 78% of women who get breast cancer were cured / survived. Now, 98% of women
are cured/survive with the help of the Race for the Cure. This is the impact she has made on
society.
Nancy G Brinker has been a very influential person. She said This is a country of can-do,
dont take no for an answer. (Nancy Brinker, UIAA article) She did not take no for an answer.
She lost her sister to breast cancer and promised her that she would do everything she could to
help breast cancer. With the help of her parents, husband and Eric (son), she has been able to
do that. She also has received many awards for her great efforts that she deserves. Her
influence on society is huge. She has done many things but the most influential thing is the
organization she made, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Nancy influenced the world by
taking breast cancer out of the shadows and making it known so they can put an end to it.