Two young girls with curly hair standing indoors against a wooden wall, dressed in vintage clothing, smiling at the camera.

About Me

I’m Nancy G. Brinker — a daughter, sister, mother, diplomat, and advocate. I grew up in Peoria, Illinois, in a home filled with love, purpose, and a deep belief in service. When my beloved sister Suzy died of breast cancer at 36, I made her a promise: to do everything I could to end the disease that took her too soon. That promise became my life’s mission.

I founded the Susan G. Komen organization and helped launch the global breast cancer movement, turning personal loss into a worldwide force for awareness, research, and hope. We created Race for the Cure, the world’s largest 5K run/walk series, igniting a new model for grassroots fundraising that brought millions together in solidarity. With the help of passionate supporters and visionary sponsors, we invested more than $3.6 billion in research, advocacy, and patient care — fueling 29 new breast cancer treatments, guiding hundreds of thousands of patients through navigation and support services and breaking down tens of thousands of barriers to care. This work helped drive down breast cancer mortality in the U.S. by 44% and brought lifesaving care to millions of women across more than 60 countries. We also helped establish October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, now recognized around the world as a call to action.

Person wearing a pink t-shirt with the words 'Celebrating Life, Love & Hope' printed on it. The person has a pink badge with black handwritten text that reads 'In Memory of My Sister Susan G. Komen' and logos for 'Race for the Cure' and 'ZTA' at the bottom. Other people are visible in the background.

Along the way, I served as U.S. Ambassador to Hungary and as Chief of Protocol, walking the halls of the West Wing and representing our nation with pride. I was honored to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 — a moment I shared with my mother Ellie, my son Eric, and the memory of my sister in my heart.

Today, I’m focused on the Promise Fund, a nonprofit working to eliminate barriers to breast and cervical cancer care for women in need. It’s the next chapter of my promise to Suzy — and I’m just getting started.

A man in a dark suit and red tie gently places a medal around a woman's neck during a ceremony, with other people in the background.

Contact

I always appreciate hearing from people who’ve connected with my story or shared in this journey. While I may not be able to respond to every message personally, please do write — your words mean more than you know. Thank you for reaching out.