NYSUT members join in battle against breast cancer

his October, thousands of NYSUT members are joining in the battle against breast cancer — and celebrating victories against it.

Third-grade teacher Sarah Wise, a member of the Hewlett-Woodmere Faculty Association, put off her first mammogram until she was 48.

“My father died of lung cancer,” Wise said. “For years after he passed, I chose not to get a mammo out of fear. As my doctor’s retirement wish, I finally went, thankfully. It gave me a baseline so that when I went back a year later, they were able to spot something new — breast cancer.”

Wise caught the cancer early enough that she was able to do a lumpectomy and radiation.

“Now, I am such an advocate for mammograms. Early diagnosis makes such a difference,” she said.

Every year, the Hewlett-Woodmere FA participates in Making Strides of Long Island. This year, the walk is in honor of Wise. “As uncomfortable as I am with the spotlight, it was a wonderful gesture, and I’m so happy to be able to contribute to this cause,” Wise said. She has already raised nearly $1,000 for the walk.

NYSUT has been a flagship sponsor for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer for 22 years, and during that time, our members have raised $17.5 million to support groundbreaking breast cancer research, ensure greater access to quality care, influence public policy, and provide critical patient support.

“NYSUT is proud to support Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. To all of our members who are facing down this diagnosis, we want to say, ‘We are here for you,’ and to our members who have loved ones battling this disease, we want to say, ‘We will continue to fight until no one else has to battle this monster,’” said J. Philippe Abraham, NYSUT secretary-treasurer, whose office coordinates the statewide union’s social justice initiatives and who lost one of his sisters to the disease.

Holly Mair knew breast cancer ran in her family. “My mother’s been battling breast cancer for 12 years. All the women in my family have had it. The youngest was 30,” said Mair, a fourth-grade teacher and member of the Dobbs Ferry United Teachers.

During Mair’s last three mammograms, doctors found something; the results of the biopsies all turned out to be benign, but Mair said the mounting fear and anxiety was too much.

“I decided to do a double mastectomy prophylactically,” she said. “It was challenging, but I felt it was necessary, and my doctors agreed. They said in my case, it was not a matter of ‘if’ I got breast cancer, but ‘when.’”

Mair said the surgery allayed some of her fears. “I feel a huge sense of relief. I’m very at peace with my decision.”

Mair has been leading the Dobbs Ferry team for two years and enjoys the sense of camaraderie at the Making Strides of Westchester event. “You go there, and there is such a sense of community. You see such strong women and men coming together, and you realize just how many people have been impacted by this disease. I just want to always do more than I did the year before,” she said. “My goal this year is $1,500. Every single dollar counts.”

A member of the Faculty Association of Suffolk Community College, Teresa Noto has been a breast cancer survivor for 10 years, and attributes her victory against the disease to her network. “When I was diagnosed, I had 10-year-old twin boys. I didn’t have any choice but to fight it,” she said. “It’s about getting through a tough time, and then putting your hand out to help someone else.”

Noto, associate professor of automotive technology at Suffolk County Community College, has been participating in Making Strides of Eastern Long Island for about six years and says each year the event is empowering and positive. “It’s not a somber, sad event. It could be, but it’s not. There’s so much love there.”

Noto is passionate about raising funds because she wants everyone to have access to great care. “You don’t do this for any other reason but what’s in your heart,” she said.