Volunteer Spotlight

Susan Stuppnig and Tracey Roberts: A Friendship Renewed

Susan Stuppnig and Tracey Roberts are from Lincolnton, North Carolina.  Both met as Juniors at Lincolnton High School in 1984.  They took school trips to England and Scotland together and enjoyed many baseball and football games throughout their high school years.  But as friends often do, they lost touch after graduation.  Susan headed off to Meredith College and Tracey to Appalachian State University.

At the age of 26, Susan was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Susan carries the BRCA1 gene.  She lost her mother to ovarian cancer.  She was given a 30% chance of surviving only 3 years.  After receiving an experimental bone marrow transplant, her odds increased to 70% chance of living 3 years.  Susan beat the odds and has now been cancer free for 14 years.

Tracey has no family history of breast cancer.  Her doctor advised her to get a baseline mammogram at age 35.  Cancer was detected in that mammogram.  The doctor who broke the news to Tracey said that she was the sixth woman under 40 she had diagnosed that week.  Through her diagnosis, Tracey found Komen Charlotte.  She began volunteering in 2006 on the IT committee.  She was quickly identified as having leadership qualities and became a Board member in 2007.   

In December of 2005, Susan heard news through the grapevine that her old friend Tracey was sick.  No one knew what her ailment was, but Susan decided to call Tracey's mother in Lincolnton to investigate.   Tracey's mother informed Susan that Tracey was living in Charlotte and had just been diagnosed with breast cancer.  Susan says, "First, I was surprised to hear that Tracey was living in the same city and second, that she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I called her immediately to offer words of hope and encouragement that I beat this and so can you."

Susan offered hope to Tracey during her diagnosis and Tracey offered Susan a way to share her passion of fighting this dreaded disease.  Tracey brought Susan to a Race Committee planning meeting in 2007, and Komen Charlotte saw similar leadership abilities in Susan and offered her a position on their Board of Directors in 2008.