"When a woman is diagnosed with
breast cancer, she is placed in unknown
territory. Women without means suffer
the most and often need additional support.
There are many grassroots agencies out there
to help these women, but they need the funds
to provide services to low income women. This
is where Friends of Faith is available to help in
awarding grants to agencies so they can continue
to do this good work."
- Faith Fancher -
(1950 - 2003)
|
Award winning journalist Faith Fancher was a trail-blazer. A summa cum
laude graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Faith opened
many doors as the first African-American female reporter at WBIR-TV in
Knoxville, Tennessee. She honed her skills with stints at NPR, CNN's
Washington, D.C. office, National Black Network, and WSM-TV in
Nashville. In 1983 Faith moved to the Bay Area and became a top
reporter at KTVU-Channel 2 in Oakland, where she remained until her
death in 2003.
Her Public Battle
As a journalist and highly visible Bay Area personality, Faith
understood the power of information, so when she was diagnosed with
breast cancer in 1997, she chose to turn her private battle into a
public forum to raise awareness about the disease. "Faith's Story," a
multi-part series aired on KTVU-Channel 2, and followed her journey from
surgery through treatment.
The series, won a number of awards including the American Medical
Association's International Film prize, the "Freddie," for outstanding
reporting on cancer treatment.
Faith's Legacy
Throughout her six-and-a-half year battle against breast cancer, Faith
worked tirelessly in the effort to raise awareness and money to help
grassroots programs benefiting low-income women with breast cancer.
Faith was truly an inspiration to others, but especially to the members
of "Friends of Faith". We have committed ourselves to continuing the
work she began and to follow through with her vision.
Special note: Faith was sustained throughout her illness by her many
family members and friends, but she was especially uplifted by the love
and devotion of her husband William Drummond.
|
