The Hunt-Mable Hope Foundation was envisioned while I was in the throes of the battle and formed when I finally started to see and believe that there was a light at the end of the tunnel. I chose the name ‘The Hunt-Mable Hope Foundation’ for two reasons.

I named it after myself because, as a Black woman, we are constantly marginalized in every aspect of our daily lives. We are treated as less than but demanded more of at work, at home, in politics, and especially in health care. If you think of nonprofits associated with breast cancer, I can almost guarantee that the Susan G. Komen Foundation comes to mind. While I am extremely grateful for the funding and attention they have brought to breast cancer, I also questioned how much of that research and advocacy focuses on people like me, the Black woman. According to the American Cancer Society, Black women are about 4% less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than White women, but are 40% more likely to die from it. Those statistics are concerning. As I went through each step of the battle, I noticed more and more disparities, which led me to wonder how many other Black women are experiencing the same things. Who is going to help address and correct these issues if not a Black woman? And why not me? Thus, the Hunt-Mable part of the Hunt-Mable Hope Foundation was created. It is my hope that one day the Hunt-Mable Hope Foundation will be as synonymous with breast cancer as the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

I chose to use the word ‘hope’ in the name because sometimes, that is all we have. It is said that hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes. Now, don’t get me wrong, there were an abundance of prayers and lots of believing and trusting in God that I would be healed, but there was also a significant amount of hope. I hoped the margins were clear. I hoped to make it through the treatments. I hoped that I wouldn’t get sick. I hoped that my skin wouldn’t bleed. I hoped that my hair wouldn’t fall out. I hoped that I would have enough energy to take a shower. I hoped for better days. And right now, I sincerely hope the cancer will not return. Hope is an integral part of faith and trusting in God, therefore the ‘hope’ part of the Hunt-Mable Hope Foundation was created.