Gayela Bynum 7/8/2020
Copa: Where did you grow up and attend school?
Gayela: I was born in Sulphur, Oklahoma and from the age of 5 on lived in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma until I married at 19 and moved away to college at the University of Oklahoma, in Norman, Oklahoma. I married after my sophomore year of college and graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Arkansas. Copa: How long have you lived in the Washington, DC area?
Gayela: I moved to Washington DC in 1979. At that time, I was living in Los Altos Hills California, when “I had a dream,” (so to speak) to move to DC. I was in the process of making a major personal change in my life – and had no idea what the change would be and then the inspiration came to me about 2:30 am when I receive most of my inspirations. It absolutely was the right move as I reflect on that turbulent time in my life. Copa: Why do you believe it is important for people to work together during the changing times we find ourselves living?
2020 started out with a bang – everything was on par moving forward for the year. In February and early March, Josie Valdez, WWSC Board member and her glam squad provided makeovers for cancer patients at Howard University Cancer Center. Josie has been providing this service monthly to Howard on their mammogram screening days for several years. March 8th, WWSC and the Wizards hosted an event at the Verizon Arena for about 35 cancer patients and their families. Suddenly on March 13th, the country came to a halt and threw everyone in the country into quarantine because of COVID-19. Suddenly donations dried up, events had to be closed or postponed, businesses came to a standstill throwing plans for 2020 upside down. Initially, I think we thought the shutdown would last a couple of weeks and then life would restart, resuming as it was, or as we knew it. When that didn’t happen, WWSC had to regroup and rethink how we could achieve our mission with little money in the bank and resources. Board members Kimberly Wilde-Warfield and Josie Valdez collected needed supplies, dinners and food for the families. Macy’s opened its Ballston store for me to shop (with a mask on of course), for a couple of mothers who were very sick from chemotherapy and radiation, who needed clothes and household items for their families - Suzette Manduley, WWSC Board member shopped for groceries which we completed and delivered in one day . In answer to your question, WWSC has experienced and learned the importance of partnership these past five months. WWSC was able to provide supplies, clothing, and food to 400 plus cancer patients and their families. WWSC assisted and continues to assist the Howard University Cancer Center stock its first food bank for their patients. WWSC could not have fulfilled its mission without the generous donations of Macy’s, SkyTechnologies, and other individual donors who have shown us the miracle of love and working together. Copa: Why is fundraising so important for charities especially during the current pandemic?
Gayela: As you are aware, Rodney, the larger organizations receive large donations on an ongoing basis. We Will Survive Cancer operates on a relatively tiny budget with all the donations we receive going directly to the cancer patients and their families. No one on the Board is paid a salary and each board member is expected to pick up the costs they incur as a donation to the organization. That means that more than 95% of donations goes directly to the patients with 5% going to admin costs. For WWSC to carry out its mission, we need and depend on donations to help us sustain our mission. These past six months, WWSC would not have been able to give to the 400 plus persons we support, without the generous donations of food, clothing, household items and supplies provided by Macy’s, SkyTechnologies, fundraisers on FaceBook, and individual donors. For me it is a miracle that WWSC has been able to move forward with its mission this year. |
Copa: When did you establish "We Will Survive Cancer" and why?
Gayela: My beautiful daughter-in-law Michelle Bynum was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. She had identified a lump in her breast when she was pregnant with my grandson but because she was pregnant the doctor said her body was changing and not to worry– besides, he told her she was “too young” to have breast cancer. She gave birth to Reid in 2004, breast fed him but felt the lump grow, yet still had the same response from her doctor “You’re too young” to have breast cancer. Finally when Reid was 14 months old, Michelle begged for a mammogram and was given the referral necessary – reluctantly, and was admonished by her doctor that she was “too young and the techs would laugh.” No one was laughing when Michelle was diagnosed with advanced Stage III breast cancer. Michelle then began her valiant fight to live; more than anything, she wanted to see her son grow-up. In my many visits with her to chemo, her stories of young women, in the same fight, were very dissimilar to Michelle’s. She talked of husbands who left their wives, once they were diagnosed with cancer – chemo treatment often causes hair loss, toenail, fingernail, eyebrows and eyelashes and their breasts – it was just not what they “signed up for!” The wives were often left with no car, no insurance and could barely pay their rent. Michelle in her early diagnosis would drive these young women home (sometimes 30 miles or more) after taking her own chemo therapy, because they couldn’t even afford taxi fare to go home. Michelle’s support was just the opposite – my son took over the care of the house, cooking making sure their son Reid was well cared for; Michelle’s parents and all her friends were likewise there for Michelle at every turn. Michelle recognized the need for caring and support by and for the family. In the next five and a half years of her life, Michelle became an advocate; she and her “Michelle’s Angels” team raised over $125,000 for Komen Austin. In 2009 Michelle was named spokesperson for Komen Austin for the amazing work she did to raise awareness of the cancer threat in young women. She was constantly interviewed around the state of Texas and featured in Livestrong Posters and other media outlets. “We Will Survive Cancer” came about from this effort. Michelle made us aware that families often are left out – care and attention go to the patients, as it should be, but the family needs attention and support as well. Michelle coined two important phrases “Don’t Waste my Cancer,” and “Eat Life With a Big Spoon” - she was all of that and more. Michelle “Passed the Torch,” in January 2011 after her valiant fight. |
Copa: What does the future hold for “We Will Survive Cancer,” and its future events to continue the organization’s mission?
Gayela: A very good question – thank you for asking. WWSC postponed its Celebration of Life for 2020. There are so many variables right now, that finding a date that will work is not easy to determine. As you know, the event was originally planned for the spring and had to be changed. I considered a date in September but because of the increase of COVID-19, September does not seem feasible. Several people have suggested virtual events, but I’m not geared toward that kind of event. All I can say is “we will have to see where this goes.”
My big concern for 2020 is pulling off WWSC’s “Making Spirits Bright,” holiday gift giving campaign WWSC hosts every year in December. In past years, WWSC has majorly increased the number of patients and their families from each earlier year. In 2009, WWSC gifted two families with gift baskets. In 2019, we increased that number to 123 families totaling 503 people. The families we support come through Life With Cancer, Howard University Cancer Center, The National Breast Foundation, Nueva Vida, Virginia Oncology in Newport News and Norfolk, Virginia, St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, Lombardi Cancer Center, INOVA, and several individual families in need in Virginia, Texas and North Carolina. Through the years, WWSC has asked the patient’s to provide a wish list of needs and gifts they would like to receive. Macy’s provided two very generous grants, in 2018 and 2019, and QVine last year, WWSC that allowed WWSC to steadily increase the number of families we support. Because of the issues that have resulted from closed businesses, how we continue our effort in 2020, is of great concern right now. Hopefully we can revisit this question at a later time, closer to the holidays.
In the meantime, thank you Rodney, for taking the time to ask these questions and thank you for the generous time and support you’ve given We Will Survive Cancer over the years. It truly means so much to me and to WWSC!
For further information on We Will Survive Cancer, or to donate, please visit our website at www.wewillsurvivecancer.org
Gayela Bynum
Founder/Chair
We Will Survive Cancer
202-257-7930
Gayela: A very good question – thank you for asking. WWSC postponed its Celebration of Life for 2020. There are so many variables right now, that finding a date that will work is not easy to determine. As you know, the event was originally planned for the spring and had to be changed. I considered a date in September but because of the increase of COVID-19, September does not seem feasible. Several people have suggested virtual events, but I’m not geared toward that kind of event. All I can say is “we will have to see where this goes.”
My big concern for 2020 is pulling off WWSC’s “Making Spirits Bright,” holiday gift giving campaign WWSC hosts every year in December. In past years, WWSC has majorly increased the number of patients and their families from each earlier year. In 2009, WWSC gifted two families with gift baskets. In 2019, we increased that number to 123 families totaling 503 people. The families we support come through Life With Cancer, Howard University Cancer Center, The National Breast Foundation, Nueva Vida, Virginia Oncology in Newport News and Norfolk, Virginia, St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, Lombardi Cancer Center, INOVA, and several individual families in need in Virginia, Texas and North Carolina. Through the years, WWSC has asked the patient’s to provide a wish list of needs and gifts they would like to receive. Macy’s provided two very generous grants, in 2018 and 2019, and QVine last year, WWSC that allowed WWSC to steadily increase the number of families we support. Because of the issues that have resulted from closed businesses, how we continue our effort in 2020, is of great concern right now. Hopefully we can revisit this question at a later time, closer to the holidays.
In the meantime, thank you Rodney, for taking the time to ask these questions and thank you for the generous time and support you’ve given We Will Survive Cancer over the years. It truly means so much to me and to WWSC!
For further information on We Will Survive Cancer, or to donate, please visit our website at www.wewillsurvivecancer.org
Gayela Bynum
Founder/Chair
We Will Survive Cancer
202-257-7930