MY LIFE Matters - Advocacy in Action - 1

LETTER FROM MAIMAH KARMO Conversation
MY LIFE MATTERS
"
MAIMAH KARMO, 17-YEAR TNBC SURVIVOR,
CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE TIGERLILY
FOUNDATION
A "
dvocacy in Action " is one
of my favorite phrases, as it
brings to mind women using
their individual superpowers
as a force for good. We hear
the word " awareness " tossed around a lot.
" Awareness " doesn't change anything,
action does. Acting on what we know and
using our voices is what will get us to a
world where age, stage, and color no longer
cause inequities. Advocacy in action is what
will get us to the day when cancer will no
longer be a terminal disease but a chronic
one, and people can live longer, healthier,
and happier lives.
The past 17 years have been a roller
coaster as I began my advocacy right
after my diagnosis. After facing almost
insurmountable odds, I founded Tigerlily
Foundation while in treatment. Most
importantly, my advocacy began by taking
action for myself by pushing for the
right answers, so that I got the screening,
testing, and treatment in time-and I'm
still standing 17 years later. After my
diagnosis, I began to share my story. I'd
never done this before, but there was
something powerful and beautiful about
seeing people change and embrace their
inner strength. Educating, advocating, and
empowering young women before, during,
and after cancer has been life-changing for
me-the life lessons I have learned, lives
I have touched, policy, science, research,
the friends I've made, and so much more.
The richness of living a life grounded in
faith through action, purpose, passion,
love and gratitude is incredible. There
has been so much love given and received
through advocacy. It is amazing how life
can be transformed for the better when
you open your hands to give to others
and build bridges in communities. It has
changed my life.
Seventeen years ago when I was diagnosed,
I did not see other women who
looked like me, I felt alone in my treatment
journey and alone as there was no
community that I could connect with.
And so I built it. Today, we have women
everywhere using their voices for change.
We see the power of community and
know that together, we can make systemic
changes, improve health outcomes, and be
an unstoppable force for good.
This year Tigerlily Foundation launched
the Unstoppable ANGEL Tour. As a breast
cancer survivor, my personal journey has
ignited an unyielding passion for grassroots
advocacy.
The Unstoppable ANGEL Tour is a
celebration of life, resilience, and empowerment.
It brings together ANGEL
Advocates, community leaders, healthcare
professionals, and individuals from
all walks of life to engage in interactive
workshops, transformative educational
sessions, and fellowship with one another.
Our goal is to visit the 21 communities
in the United States that have the highest
mortality rate in Black and Brown breast
cancer to listen, learn, love, educate,
and commune patients, while delivering
culturally relevant tools they can use to
advocate for themselves and their loved
ones, and work to co-create solutions. It
is important that women know that we
see them, we hear them, we understand
what they are going through, and we are
sisters in this journey.
This is the third year that we have been
in partnership with Elephants and Tea
creating the MY LIFE Matters magazines,
and together we have grown our community
and been able to share beautiful
stories of Advocacy in Action. Each article
highlights the human experience and the
incredible force, bravery, and vulnerability
of people living with cancer. It shows the
reality of what it means to be in this community
and act to create change for good.
As you read this issue, I hope you'll be as
inspired as I am by these incredible individuals.
Thank you to everyone who are
part of this community, who is advocating
and working to build a brighter future for
us all and the generations to come.
Blessings, hope, and much love.
Maimah Karmo
MY LIFE MATTERS
ADVOCACY IN ACTION | FALL 2023
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MY LIFE Matters - Advocacy in Action

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MY LIFE Matters - Advocacy in Action
