Heather Gilbert delivering her acceptance speech after receiving the award as Orange County's Most Inspirational Survivor, on Saturday, April 5, 2003, at the annual Wanda J. Cobb Breast Health Symposium/Susan G. Komen Spring Luncheon in Irvine.

Heather received her award in recognition of her work with the group Breast Cancer Survivors, a non-porfit organization she helped found. It provides financial assistance to cover the expenses of bc patients unable to work because of the treatment they are undergoing.

Since retiring in January 2003 Heather has been able to devote full-time attention to her volunteer activities on behalf of bc patients. Not only is she Chairman of the Board of Breast Cancer Survivors, she also has volunteered for Healing Odyssey and is involved with various activities for the Susan G. Komen Foundation's Orange County chapter, especially the annual Race for the Cure (in two years she personally raised more than $41,000--way to run, Heather!).

Heather's Acceptance Speech

Thank you, Sally. And thank you to my friends and colleagues who nominated me. Thank you also to the Komen Foundation for being such a positive force in the lives and well-being of women in Orange County, and to High Priority for giving us such a wonderful symposium today and every year. And special thanks to my friends and family who are here to support me today.

You know, when I was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in 1996, I had a relatively easy time of it, or so I have come to understand since then. I had a lumpectomy, axillary node dissection, and radiation. I was done in 3 months. Certainly, I never dreamed of the powerful impact that diagnosis would have on the course of my life since then. What had been a very busy life focused on career and fun became a very focused life of volunteerism.

And so today, I don't feel so much inspirING as inspirED.

I am inspired by all the caregivers, both medical professionals, and the families and friends of patients, who give so much unconditionally, and who often suffer intense loss despite their efforts. My caregivers discovered my cancer through persistent evaluation, and thus it was found early enough to be easily treatable. But even for the best caregivers, this isn't always so. They are all heroes to me.

I am inspired by the unbelievably dedicated volunteers I have the pleasure of working with, including the board and volunteers of Breast Cancer Survivors, the Komen Foundation, Healing Odyssey, and High Priority. They have hearts of gold and generosity beyond description. They are all heroes to me.

I am inspired by the women I meet through Breast Cancer Survivors, our non-profit organization so generously supported by the Komen Foundation through the Community Grants program. These women are fighting not only a life-threatening disease, but also financial challenges often resulting from an economic system that does not address their situation well. Yet they proudly fight for their lives, their families, and their homes. They are all heroes to me.

And I look out at this room, and I am inspired by all of you. Each of you has a story--of facing breast cancer yourself, of loving someone who is facing breast cancer, of working to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease--and each of your stories is inspiring to me. You are all heroes to me.

Finally, and most of all, my dear friends and family, today represented by some very special friends here at this table and my favorite niece Heather who came all the way from Chicago to be here, inspire me. They keep me going and constantly remind me what its all about. I only wish this hotel had much bigger tables! I love you alyou are all heroes to me.

Thank you for allowing me share my inspiration with you today.

Just one more thing--Barb, this one's for you! You are still the wind beneath my wings!

Thank you.