Testimonials
- Autum Donald - Exec. Assistant - Winchester Medical Center - Winchester, VA - April 2011
- "Becky's words were so inspiring, and she is a great speaker with just the right touch of humor and seriousness. She seems to be a very brave, "glass half full" person, and my friends and I all left feeling very lighthearted and motivated. Seeing the camaraderie and sisterhood of the women survivors of breast cancer, is surely something good! And Becky's gift of speaking is a true blessing to others!"
- Barbara Gent, Executive Assistant - Valley Health - Winchester, VA - April 2011
- "I just wanted to let you know that the speaker for this year's luncheon (Becky Olson) was awesome! She made me laugh, she made me cry, she made me think. What a wonderful outlook she had. I could have listened to this speaker all day without hesitation. I have experienced loss of a sister in law to breast cancer and now two of her daughters are facing the same challenge. I just wish they could have heard this speaker as well."
- Dana Curish-Executive Director - Susan G. Komen for the Cure - Indianapolis-September 2009
- "Becky spoke at our recent Pink Ribbon Celebration, our annual luncheon for breast cancer survivors and their friends and family. Becky “wowed” the over 700 in attendance with her sense of humor, energy and warmth. The room was filled with laughter and tears. Everyone left the luncheon feeling entertained and most of all inspired by Becky’s story of hope and determination."
- David Faddis, M.D - Good Samaritan Hospital - Corvallis, OR - October 2009
- "Don't miss an opportunity to hear Becky Olson. Her gift of humor and message of hope are truly inspirational to women dealing with breast cancer, and healthcare professionals alike. The Hat that Saved My Life should be required reading for those of us honored and privileged to share our patients' journeys."
David M. Faddis M.D., F.A.C.S.
Surgical Oncologist
Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center
Corvallis, OR - Dana Ostergard - OSF St. Anthony Medical Center - Rockford, IL - October 2009
- “We knew when we asked Becky to speak at our Women’s Series event, that she would bring something special to the evening, but we were not prepared for just how amazing she would be. Her message was not only for those in our audience affected by breast cancer, it truly touched every person in attendance, both men and women. One minute she had me laughing so hard I was crying, and the next minute, tears of hope and heartbreak were falling down my cheeks. Her genuine desire to bring hope to any person in any situation shines through as she speaks. To put it simply, Becky was magical.”
- Bruce Murdock - K103 FM - Portland, OR
- "Becky IS 'The breast cancer comic!' She is hilarious."
- Rebekah James - Self Regional Healthcare - Greenwood, SC - October 2007
- "We have had so many positive comments - including 'This was the best speaker of all the luncheons that have been done!' Thanks for being a part of it."
- Vicky Hill - Wythe Co Hospital - Wytheville, VA - October 2007
- "Becky spoke at our annual breast cancer event and was a real big hit! Not only did she inspire our audience with hope, she dazzled them with humor and cheer! Becky is a fabulous speaker with an awesome story to tell. She’ll win the hearts of any audience she addresses!"
Vicky L. Hill
Director of Marketing/Public Relations
Wythe County Community Hospital
Wytheville, VA - Christine McDonald - Susan G. Komen - Portland, OR- August 2007
- "Becky Olson brings her own unique sense of style, strength and humor to her speaking engagements. Her personal breast cancer journey and her upbeat and contagious optimism is inspiring to everyone in her audience. The Oregon and SW Washington Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is proud to endorse her 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 - Sarah Kaiser - St. Charles Medical Center - Bend, OR - April 2007
- "You were the perfect speaker for our event. You were encouraging, inspiring and fun to hear. Thank you for doing such an outstanding job."
- Gail Helland, R.N. - SW Washington Medical Center - Vancouver, - June 2006
- "Your stories are inspiring and entertaining. Our participants really enjoyed you and you added a wonderful quality to our celebration. Thank you!!!"
- Diana Keith - Oregon Mammography Directive - Portland, OR - May 2006
- “Your talk was wonderful and you are very courageous women. It is people like you who can show the rest of us that cancer is just a word, and not a sentence.”
- Louise DeCoux - Lafayette, LA - February 2006
- "I was able to hear you speak in Lafayette, LA and I want to thank you for motivating me again! You see, I too believe that things happen for a reason and God puts people in our lives for a reason. 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!"
God Bless You! - John Edney M.D. - Omaha, NE - September 2005
- "Becky Olson spoke at our Special Friends Celebration, September 24, 2005. She spoke to over 800 breast cancer survivors and supporters. Becky was very warm, entertaining and well received by our audience. She is highly referred by our organization and myself as well.
John J. Edney
Aesthetic Surgical Images
Omaha, NE 68114 - Mary Lynn Schwietz - Omaha, NE - September 2005
- "Becky Olson spoke at our Breast Cancer Survivors Brunch in Omaha, Nebraska in September of 2005. Becky 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
Special Friends Celebration
Chariperson - John Kanelis - Amarillo, TX - July 2005
- Becky Olson’s humor and spirit are infectious, even in the face of pain and suffering, and she displays both in abundance as she tells of her struggle against breast cancer. The effect puts everyone who hears her humor at ease. Her essential message – as told in her book “The Hat That Saved My Life” and through her inspirational speaking – is that the human spirit can be the greatest weapon ever created against life-threatening illness. It is greater than all the medicine, all the scientific advances ever developed. And if you lose that spirit, then the battle is all but over. Becky shows how her own spirit and zest for living sustains not just her, but those who hear her message. It provides hope for all who endure the fear that cancer brings. Becky provides living, breathing proof of the power of the human spirit. It, and she, are indomitable.
John Kanelis
Editorial Page Editor
Amarillo Globe News - Carol Farron - Pink October - Lodi, California - October 2005
- "Speaking from personal experience and from her heart, Becky Olson is a jewel of a cancer survivor. Her animated spirit, insight and wit helped her through her own breast cancer experiences, but by her sharing, she helps others through theirs. Choosing life was the only option for Becky, and her insight on how family members and friends can respond when cancer is in the home, will help family members and friends know what to do to help their loved ones choose life too. 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
Community Development Director - Barbara Christenson - The Speak Well Being Group - September 2005
- "I love it when I get to see a speaker locally whether it's one of "my" speakers, one I'm scouting or someone I just want to hear/see for my own enlightenment or personal growth. I got to experience Becky Olson, an up and coming speaker in the health arena. Becky recently left the corporate world to pursue her passion for speaking and sharing her experience living through breast cancer. She is a two time breast cancer survivor, author of "The Hat that Saved My Life" and was the keynote speaker for the Komen "Sail for the Cure" event here in Portland. I loved that Becky got us all involved in her talk. She had five points to make, called the 5 H's, and she had us repeat them out loud. Then, during her talk, she asked us, when she got to each point, to name it. Much to my amazement, I remembered each one, and so did other audience members! I will tell you, that her first "H" was Hair and that launched her into the story that led to the title of her book. Becky also developed a program around a character, "Sister Lister." A list maker all her life, Becky addresses a problem that many women face: Too much to do and never enough time to do it. Becky, however, has a point. When you're feeling stressed out by too many things on your mind, list-making can be a lifesaver. In her Sister Lister workshop she'll teach you how to better organize your life by learning to focus on one task at a time. "Too often we get caught up in one daunting task only to find ourselves thinking about all the other ones that are piling up behind it," Becky says. "The first one doesn't get done and the second one doesn't get started because we are not focused." The best part of it is, she does it all with a sense of humor. "Get control, get focused, get it done and then GO PLAY!" she says. I knew I liked this woman the moment I met her!"
Barbara Christenson
Owner
The Speak Well Being Group - Alice Bernard - Treasurer FMCA - Red Hat Luncheon - Albany, OR - June 2005
- "I urge everyone who has a chance to hear Becky speak, please do. In her presentation, "Welcome to the 5H Club," she was able to include humor into an otherwise, very serious subject. It is something that would be beneficial not only to women of all ages, but also to male family members of women who have breast cancer. She came across very sincere and caring. I was so impressed that when I found out she was going to be in the area that one of my daughters lives in, I suggested that she and some of her friends attended her program. Fortunately at this time neither myself or my family has been faced with breast cancer but I think that after listening to Becky, that if this does happen to us, it will be easier to face."
- Kristen Morris - VP Quality Code Publishing - Seattle, WA - 2005
- "Becky is a phenomenal public speaker and one of the most inspirational individuals I have ever met. I worked with Becky to publish her book, "The Hat That Saved My Life," which chronicles her struggle and victory over breast cancer. Her courage, humor and enthusiastic approach to life are contagious."
- Valerie Fielder-St. Bernard's Medical Center - Jonesboro, AR - October 2004
- "You were such an inspiration to everyone that was there and everyone after that day who heard about your courage."
Valerie Fielder
Director of Marketing
St. Bernard's Medical Center
Annual Survivor Luncheon - Rachel Clearwater - Author of - Portland, OR - September 2004
- "You deserved the standing ovation. You're one brave, inspiring little woman!!!!!"
(Komen Survivor Luncheon) - Heather Hill DDS - Susan Komen Survivor Luncheon - Portland, OR - September 2004
- "It was wonderful to have you as our speaker (at our annual survivor luncheon). You were inspiring, thought provoking, entertaining and funny! I have reviewed the evaluations and they were very, very positive. (Including: Becky Olson was a 5+++, -out of 5- , Becky showed remarkable courage, Becky was GREAT, Becky Olson was inspiring, Becky was sweet and gracious and she had great points). For me, you embodied our luncheon theme, “Thriving after Breast Cancer.” Thank you!!!”
Susan G. Komen-Board Member
and Luncheon Committee Co-Chair
Oregon & S.W. Washington Affiliate - Marcia Smith - Pink Ribbon Survivor Celebration - - Indiana 2003
- "It was beautiful, warm, witty and from the heart. I really enjoyed you! Your attitude is exuberant and contagious!"
- Ruth Melvin - Marketing Director - - St. John's Hospital - Longview, WA 2002
- "One of the best presentations we've ever had!"