Sponsored

breast cancer research foundation specialty plate — (L-R) Dr. Karim Budhwani, Madeline Patterson, Gabi Hembree-Lee (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

An estimated 4,500 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year in our state.

The good news is there’s a fun way to help fund local, lifesaving research. All you have to do is order the Breast Cancer Research specialty license plate and drive!

Read on for details, plus meet three Birmingham locals who decided to think pink this year.

About BCRFA

Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA) began nearly 30 years ago with a mission to help find a cure for breast cancer by funding promising research in Alabama.

Since 1996, the organization has invested over $15 million toward this goal.

A tag that keeps giving

Ordering the BCRFA’s Breast Cancer Research tag is also a quick and meaningful way to support the organization’s mission to fund research in Alabama.

Here are some important things to know about the tag:

BCRFA receives $41.25 of each annual $50 specialty tag fee.
Since it debuted in 2006, the license plate has raised over $5M for local lifesaving research.
It’s one of the top 10 most popular specialty plates in Alabama.
It generates over half a million dollars in annual revenue for BCRFA.

3 locals, 3 unique stories

We spoke with three locals about their personal stories with breast cancer to learn why they chose to get a specialty tag:

Madeline Patterson—breast cancer survivor

Knowing she was at high risk for breast cancer due to her family history and the BRCA1 genetic mutation, Madeline began bi-annual screening when she was 25.

Through screening, she discovered she had Stage 1 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in 2022, which led to a double mastectomy in 2023.

“I fully attribute my early diagnosis and successful recovery to the advances that have been made in breast cancer research through places like UAB thanks to the support of the BCRFA.

With the BCRFA, you know your contributions are going to help save lives in your local community.”
Madeline Patterson

Dr. Karim I. Budhwani—CEO-scientist

To understand the importance of funding research, we spoke with Dr. Karim Budhwani, CEO-Scientist at CerFlux in Birmingham. BCRFA has been partnered with Budhwani since CerFlux’s start.

“Over 40% of cancer patients wipe out their entire life savings in just two years after diagnosis.

Despite this, nearly 70% of patients who receive systemic therapy find out the treatment was ineffective.”
Dr. Karim Budhwani, CEO-Scientist, CerFlux

Dr. Budhwani said this is because every tumor is distinct and responds differently to even the same treatment. This causes a generalized one-size-fits-all approach to cancer treatment.

The positive part?

“Recent advances in technology are opening doors to precision personalized oncology which was not possible before.

This is why investing in cancer research is critical, now more than ever, to take advantage of new technologies so no one has to endure ineffective treatment or wipe out their life savings while fighting the ’emperor of all maladies’.”
Dr. Karim Budhwani, CEO-Scientist, CerFlux

Gabi Hembree-Lee—supporter

Gabi has been an Account Executive with the Bham Now team for over five years and, as such, has had the opportunity to support BCRFA’s marketing goals while getting to know their staff personally.

She also has a personal connection to breast cancer—she had a breast lumpectomy when she was 21 years old.

Luckily, everything turned out okay, but the experience gave Gabi newfound empathy.

“The few weeks of fear I faced are nothing in comparison to what those with breast cancer go through, but it helped me understand some of what they experience.

I hope the license plate reminds people that fantastic local organizations like BCRFA are advancing vital research to eradicate breast cancer right in Birmingham and that it shows survivors that there are people supporting them.”
Gabi Hembree-Lee, Business Development Manager, Bham Now, The Bama Buzz + Hville Blast