Mi and J’apelle are two local, Black women business owners with personal and family experiences with breast cancer. Mi’s mother, Stephanie, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and her Aunt Shantel in 2017; both women were in their late 30s.
Then in 2020, J’apelle experienced pain and swelling in her breast for over a year, but repeated visits to her healthcare provider related the symptoms to her menstrual cycle. She continued to advocate for her health, and in 2021 J’apelle was diagnosed with breast cancer; she was in her late 20s.
They now host an annual Pink Brunch to encourage women to get mammograms and perform regular self-breast exams, and to raise money to support Pink Lemonade Project.
“We love that Pink Lemonade Project is helping to spread awareness about the importance of early detection and the barriers to treatment, especially for women of color. And their financial assistance programs help cover costs of daily living during and after treatment.”
