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VALLEY — Narfunda Ross was the guest speaker at Monday’s meeting of the Valley Lions Club, held at San Marcos Restaurant. She talked about her personal experience as a breast cancer survivor and the organization she founded to promote breast cancer awareness.

Team WHIP is a 501(c)3 nonprofit with the goal of providing support and resources to uplift breast cancer survivors and their support team. WHIP stands for Working to Help those In Pink.

It has a PEARLS motto. Those letters underscore that caregivers have a Positive attitude in the presence of a patient, that they Engage in activities not all of which center around cancer while educating on cancer’s stages, types, treatments and side effects, being an Advocate by attending doctor visits and asking questions, being Resourceful by searching for help on local, state and national platforms, having a Listening ear to understand and foster a line of communication and to entertain Self help – don’t lose self while helping others.

Ross, her mother and her sister all survived best cancer. Her mother, Pearlie Gibson, survived it for 18 years before passing away this past December. She was well known in the local area for the years she taught in the classroom and on having been a columnist for The Valley Times-News. Ross was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was in her early thirties. She’s now a 16-year survivor. Her sister, Dr. Jatunn Gibson, is a 10-year survivor.

Ross said that her mom exemplified her faith by her actions in dealing with breast cancer. “She was diagnosed in 2006 and was cooking the day she got back home from the hospital,” she said.

Knowing that breast cancer often occurs in families, Mrs. Gibson’s two daughters became more diligent with checking their breasts. It’s a good thing they did.

While doing one of those routine checks, Ross discovered a lump in one of her breasts. She then set up an appointment with an oncologist. “I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer and went through six rounds of chemo,” she said. “My sister encouraged me to be educated on breast cancer before going through the process. I’m glad I did.”

She learned, for example, that her hair would fall out during the treatments. She was prepared for that by having her husband cut it. “That made me feel better by being in control,” she said. “I believe that everything happens for a reason. I have met so many people who have had similar experiences. The experience I went through showed me how to help others, and we can do that through Team WHIP.”

Team WHIP’s first event took place in October 2015. It was a walk to help spread breast cancer awareness. It was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and drew lots of participation. Walks have continued in the ensuing years. Team WHIP partnered with Auburn University’s Gene Machine in later walks. The 2024 walk raised almost $5,000 for breast cancer research.

On Saturday, April 5th, Team WHIP will be partnering with the Gene Machine for a Mommy & Me Health Seminar. It will be taking place at the Circle of Care Center for Families in Valley Medical Park from 9:30 a.m. till noon ET. Associate Professor Dr. Nancy Merner and Betsy Smallwood, R.N., will be discussing how genetics plays a crucial role in cancer education.

The seminar aims to help decrease health disparities in rural communities.

Ross, her mother and sister underwent BRAC genetic testing at UAB. “It came back that the cancer was from my mom’s side of the family,” Ross said. “Dr. Merner researched on our family genes. It was determined that my mother, my sister and me each had a very unique mutation of a gene.”

Ross said there’s a need to get the word out about breast cancer education in the African-American community.

Statistics show that the rates of breast cancer are higher among white women but the death rate due to breast cancer is higher among black women.

“If you do not have the means to drive for a cancer test, there are means to do that for you,” Ross said. “There are groups that can help you with transportation.”

The color pink is helpful in getting across the message of breast cancer awareness among women. There’s a rising degree of the color blue as well. It promotes breast cancer awareness among men. Former Chambers County Sheriff Sid Lockhart is a breast cancer survivor and is supportive of the cause.

“We have partnered with the Spencer Cancer Center in Opelika in having pink-colored items in the hospital,” Ross said. “Team WHIP comes into play in supporting local families who have a family member undergoing breast cancer treatment. We recently partnered with the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha in helping seven local families with a family member undergoing breast cancer treatments. We got groceries for each family. We are grateful for the support we have been getting from the local community. We couldn’t do what we have been doing without them.”

Ross encourages everyone to have annual check ups and to have regular self checks for breast cancer.

Registration is now under way for a Coffee & Coping Conversation to take place at 8:30 a.m. ET in the local area.on Saturday, February 8th. For information, go to www.teamwhip2015.com. Representatives of Forge of Birmingham will be there to talk about the ABCs of blood work.

Representatives of the Gene Machine have been here in the Valley on several occasions. They arrive in their pink bus with a depiction of a DNA chromosome on the side. At no charge, they take DNA samples back to their lab in Auburn. “It’s free, and they do it for any family with family members who have been treated for cancer,” Ross said.

Ross said that self-checks are not difficult to do. “Stand in front of a mirror and look for a lump,” she said. “If something looks different to you, set up a medical exam. We not only want people to be survivors, we want them to be thrivers.”