"Warm, Witty and From the Heart... Exuberant and Contagious!"
September 22, 2007
Becky delivers an inspirational presentation to a packed house at the Susan G. Komen Survivor Luncheon at the Oregon Convention Center.
BECKY OLSON RECEIVES SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE "LOCAL HERO" AWARD
Breast Friends co-founders Becky Olson and Sharon Henifin were honored with this years' "Local Hero Award" in a ceremony on September 25, 2007. The award, sponsored by Susan G. Komen for the Cure and BMW of North America, was given to the two women because of their outstanding work in the field of breast cancer awareness.
Read more...
Becky speaks to the Susan G. Komen Survivor Luncheon, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR September 18, 2004. Over 1000 guests attended this years event. Becky, with her speech, "Sister Lister," received a standing ovation.
View video
Becky's humorous and inspirational book, The Hat That Saved My Life, is now available in its second printing. The new printing includes reader testimonials and a new epilogue summarizing Becky's continued journey through her second battle with breast cancer.
Take a minute or two to read a chapter for free.
"Susan G. Komen for the Cure is proud to endorse Becky's abilities and recommends her as a speaker for any event to share her story and hope for breast cancer survivors and their co-survivors."
Christine M. McDonald
Executive Director
Oregon and SW Washington
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Becky believes that getting breast cancer was a blessing. But it took getting it twice to finally change her life.
As a two-time breast cancer survivor, Becky took her situation and turned it into something positive. In 2000, she co-founded a non-profit called Breast Friends dedicated to helping women in their fight against breast cancer. Becky also wrote the book, "The Hat That Saved My Life," a humorous and inspirational look at surviving breast cancer.
Becky worked in Corporate America for most of her life. In 1996, at age 43 and at the peak of her career, Becky was diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer. As often happens, her priorities began to change, but like many of us, she was afraid to leave the security of her job. She co-created Breast Friends and worked at it part-time while she hung in with her job.
She was diagnosed again in 2004. Finally, a year later, Becky left that high paying, but high stress job in yellow page advertising sales to pursue her career as a professional speaker. She now travels all over the country sharing her story about how she overcame the odds and stepped out to do what so many of us dream of doing "someday."
Becky knows that things don't happen "someday." They happen Tuesday or they happen Saturday. But if we wait for someday, it will never happen. Her humorous yet encouraging message gets people motivated to step out of the boat, take a chance and do something they've always dreamed of doing.
Becky encourages her audiences to look for the blessings in adversity, find happiness, don't wait for "someday" to do what you love, and most importantly, DON'T FORGET TO LAUGH - and they do.
Becky's story has been written up in Woman's World Magazine, numerous newspaper and magazine articles and Becky has appeared on Christian global television and radio.
She lives in Portland, OR with her husband of 28 years, Bill. They have five grown children and three grandchildren.
Becky is available to speak to all types of audiences, but her specialty is breast cancer events through hospital affiliations and other large venues. If you are planning an event and would like to see Becky in action, you can click on the link at the top of this page. If you would like to receive a press kit please contact Becky at olson.becky@comcast.net.
Bruce Murdock from radio station K103FM in Portland, OR called Becky Olson "The Breast Cancer Comic" after she presented her humorous and lively topic, "Humor, Happiness and Hope" to a packed house at the Susan G. Komen survivor luncheon. "Becky Olson spoke at our Breast Cancer Survivors Brunch in Omaha, Nebraska in September of 2005. She was vivacious, fun, interesting, and heartwarming. She won't disappoint you. She is a professional who knows how to speak to large groups. We had over 800 in attendance. The audience truly enjoyed her. Becky sent a videotape to us to help in making our decision, and I must say, it does not do her justice. Your audience will love her."
Mary Lynn Schwietz - September 2005
Chairperson
Special Friends Celebration
Omaha, NE
"I didn't realize how down I was until I heard you. I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart, and please don't ever stop doing what you're doing. You have a gift, and you touch more lives than you know!"
Louise DeCoux
Breast Cancer Symposium - February 2006
CajunDome
Lafayette, LA
"A joy, an inspiration and a witty, articulate speaker, Becky just makes any listener's heart grow warmer and head grow smarter."
Carol Farron
Lodi Memorial Hospital - Pink October 2005
Community Development Director
Lodi, CA
"On a scale of 1 to 5, Becky was a 5+++!!"
Heather K. Hill D.D.S.
Susan G. Komen - Survivor Luncheon Co-Chair 2004
Portland, OR
"It was beautiful, warm, witty and from the heart. I really enjoyed you! Your attitude is exuberant and contagious!"
Marcia Smith
Pink Ribbon Survivor Luncheon 2003
Indiana 2003