By danny karmin
Dr. Sandy Goldberg remembers her diagnosis like it was yesterday. In 2000, she received a mammogram with the news that she had developed breast cancer. With the support of her husband, Greg Hines, she underwent a procedure 48 hours later and began the reality of her new life.
“I felt that I was hit by a bus,” Goldberg recalled. “You hear the news and it’s like, ‘oh my god, what is my world going to be like now?’ I was in treatment for five years and this may sound a bit peculiar, but it was probably one of the most seminal things in terms of changing my life.”
Before her diagnosis, Goldberg was able to receive yearly mammograms thanks to strong insurance coverage and a reliable support system.
She soon discovered that her experience was far from typical, uncovering a broader systemic problem.
Through a relationship with the American Cancer Society, Goldberg hosted a cable show on CAN-TV’s Hotline where she interviewed cancer specialists and took calls from viewers. Callers admitted they weren’t worthy of access to any healthcare because they had no money or insurance plan.
“I learned a lot about the world I lived in and what I should be doing as a human being because I had the capability to do it,” Goldberg said. “I realized that my world was different than the world of most everyone who reached out, that what I took almost for granted, that people felt they were not allowed to access testing, and that made me sick.”
Cause went into immediate action as Goldberg and her husband created A Silver Lining Foundation in 2002 to ensure dignified, respectful and equal access to quality cancer education and services for all. By creating partnerships with community, advocacy and healthcare organizations, A Silver Lining Foundation’s mission is to ensure that socioeconomic status does not affect an individual’s access to information, cancer screening and diagnosis.
Over the course of the last 23 years, the foundation has evolved from a single outreach and resource information program to now having six programs, the heart of which is their breast health testing program: Buy A Mom A Mammogram.
“We started the program in 2006 and over the course of these years, we have reached over 40,000 women and men,” Goldberg said. “We fund the entire spectrum of breast health testing screenings through biopsies, all the way up the food chain at no cost to individuals who have reached out to us at 17 partner hospitals.”
The foundation’s newest program, named “Finally Fits,’ is an adjunct to the breast health testing program where it funds bras and prostheses for women who have gone through surgery and treatment and want to feel more normal about the changes in their bodies. The bras and prostheses come new with a fitting as well.
Upon first hearing about Goldberg and her foundation, the Wolves felt an immediate and profound connection.
“Dr. Sandy Goldberg is amazing,” Wolves President of Operations, Courtney Mahoney, said. “I challenge anyone to meet her and not fall in love with her. Her passion and energy for the foundation is unparalleled, and she’s just the best to work with and we feel privileged to work with her.”
In 2009, the Wolves partnered with the Foundation to create a yearly ‘Stick it to Breast Cancer‘ Night when fans have the opportunity to honor a breast cancer survivor of their choice by donating $175, the cost of a mammogram for someone who can’t afford one. Players write the name of the survivor on their stick, and fans who purchase a stick have the chance to meet the player after a game in October.
Thanks to the incredible support of Wolves fans in previous seasons, over 2,000 mammograms have been purchased.
“The sale of those sticks ease and save lives,” Goldberg said. “All the funds raised go directly to our breast health testing program—every single dime. Those dollars translate into mammograms that not only can help detect breast cancer in women but also ease the impact on the people around them, their friends and family.”
Goldberg vividly remembers standing shoulder to shoulder with Wolves Senior Executive Vice President Wayne Messmer on the ice during the National Anthem at a game in 2009. The roar of the crowd and the sea of fans and players dressed in pink made the moment all the more powerful and unforgettable.
“Here’s an organization that gets not just what we do, but gets what people are about and what people need,” Goldberg said. “Here’s a large organization, and what do they do? They’re helping us and they’re helping other people. It’s a very emotional thing for me to talk about. They were immediate family and love.”
Fans can purchase a one-of-a-kind Breast Cancer stick at the highlighted link now ahead of the Oct. 25 game at Allstate Arena.
In need of a mammogram and can’t afford it?
Contact A Silver Lining Foundation at (312) 345-1322 or (toll-free) 1(877) 924-1126.
