In memory of Wanna Wright, breast cancer prevention advocate extraordinaire

Wanna Wright, J.D.
December 11, 1944 – May 19, 2012

Wanna Wright was the heart and soul of our work at the Breast Cancer Fund for nearly two decades, serving on our board of directors with great distinction. We started calling Wanna our Poet Laureate in 1999 when she wrote “Alive /to Testify,” a powerful poem that expresses her deep concern for the health disparities faced by the low-income communities and communities of color that she was part of and worked on behalf of every day. "I's got to reach out to keep 'em alive, din you can teach 'em to testify 'bout de air an de waters dat's killin us daughtus," she wrote.

A breast cancer survivor and tireless advocate, Wanna volunteered her time, knowledge and heartfelt concern to speak out about the unconscionable rates of breast cancer incidence and mortality, especially among African-American women. She advocated for early detection, treatment and equitable access to care, and she helped shape the Breast Cancer Fund’s environmental health mission to prevent breast cancer before it starts. In 2001, to recognize her impressive contributions to breast cancer prevention, the Breast Cancer Fund honored Wanna with the Bella Abzug Advocacy Heroes Award.

With her purple hat and warm smile, and with her husband Charles at her side, she reminded us why we do this work, and we will not forget her. Wanna Wright, we dedicate our work to you with love and gratitude.

Comments

[K thibodeaux-Joseph]

Thinking bout my aunt Wanna today. I googled her name and to my surprise, I didnt realize the magnitude and abundance of supporters and how she affected others. Love and miss you aunt Wanna. Your favorite niece in new iberia, louisiana.

[Waylen Williams]

Thanks for the comments. from her Son Waylen

[Cynthia McKelvy]

My friend, Wanna Wright offered me an opportunity to volunteer with the calendar project and let my picture be on her birth month which we shared. She was generous and I miss her. We made sure that the breast cancer survivor calendars were distributed to the community that needed them most.

Many of the calendar girls are pictured on the wall at Doctors Medical Center, San Pablo where I recently had my annual mammogram.

Wanna is one that helped many women be ""Alive to testify!" See you in heaven.

[Julie Pofsky]

Rest in peace, Wanna. Your beautiful hats, thought-provoking poetry and inspirational songs will forever be missed. I'll always remember when you got then San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown to sing "This Little Light of Mine" at Andrea's Memorial in 2003. You could tell he was nervous to do it, but you lead him skillfully into the moment. It was a great one, and there were many others after that.

Thank you so much for your many years of dedication to the Breast Cancer Fund and for standing-up to the environmental causes of the disease.

You will be missed.

[Sheila Brown]

We will miss you and the light you brought to every room you entered, in your awesome, color-coordinated way. You brought so much to this organization from the very beginning. It will not be the same without you. But...you and your dedication will never be forgotten.