Saturday evening marks the running of the 142nd Kentucky Derby, “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports," but it’s the activity at Churchill Downs on Friday that’s worthy of mention. For the eighth consecutive year, the Kentucky Oaks Survivors Parade took place honoring breast and ovarian cancer survivors. This year, 142 survivors walked in the parade directly before the 142nd running of the Longines Kentucky Oaks race.
Survivors (or family and friends of survivors) were invited to enter for the opportunity to walk in the parade by submitting the survivor’s story. After numerous applications, one woman from a suburb of Buffalo, New York, found out she had made the cut - thanks to her son’s submission. Now cancer-free for nearly 20 years, Donna Rigby was honored to be chosen.
“What a great honor, but I think all 600 were deserving," Rigby told the West Seneca Bee. She plans to vote for a fellow survivor next year so they too can experience the parade.
With H.R. 6, the 21st Century Cures Act, more patients can have their hope for cures turn to reality. Removing barriers to collaboration helps biomedical sectors coordinate more efficiently to create faster cures - and ensure more survivors for future parades.
As the celebrated Derby play-by-play goes, “and down the stretch they come!" … on the #Path2Cures.
Survivor selected to walk in Kentucky Oaks
Tomorrow (Friday, May 6), women in Kentucky will don beautiful dresses and giant sun hats, and will walk the derby track in the 142nd Kentucky Oaks Survivors Parade. Among them will be 20-year breast cancer survivor and West Seneca resident Donna Rigby.
Of more than 600 breast and ovarian cancer survivors competing, only 142 were selected to participate in the parade. Each contestant posted her personal story of survival and watched her votes tally online.
For Rigby, her son, Paul, was the inspiration and motivation behind the win.
“It was my son that got me involved in it. My son has lived in Kentucky for about five years. He’s a lieutenant colonel in the Army at Fort Knox," Rigby said. “Paul called me one day, and he said, ‘You know, we don’t have extra tickets for the Derby; it’s real hard to get the tickets. But mom, there’s this wonderful thing called the Oaks Race." …
Fans were encouraged to share their survivor’s story to build awareness, to help select the nominees they wish to champion this cause on Kentucky Oaks Day, and to make a donation to Bright Pink, Kentucky Oaks’ charitable partner, on behalf of their favorite nominee to support early detection and prevention.
Paul shared her story.
In October 1995, just weeks after celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary, Rigby was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Doctors recommended a mastectomy, performed the Monday after Thanksgiving. After Christmas she started four months of chemotherapy.
Her last chemo treatment was April 1996. Her second and final breast reconstruction surgery was completed in May 1997. She knows she’s been very fortunate to remain cancer free since then.
“Throughout these treatments her toughness and positive attitude never wavered and proved an inspiration to her family and friends who rallied around her," her son wrote. “She is proud to be a 20-year cancer survivor, but yet is humble, for she knows too well that not all those stricken with this terrible disease are so fortunate. She lives life to the fullest, has never let cancer define her, and continues to possess her incredible positive attitude."
Her attitude and spirit earned her enough votes to be chosen. …
Then came the fun part: shopping.
“I got a gorgeous dress. You have to really get dressed up. It’s a white dress with floral, and a pink purse and pink shoes, and I ordered a huge pink hat," she said. “They’re going to decorate the hat with white flowers and ribbons." …
