Local Survivor Still Battling Cancer

Huntington Woods woman in unique position to help others with cancer

[Birmingham, MI] - Ellyn Davidson of Huntington Woods has always been very active. She has been a room mom at her kids' school, and has an endless calendar of regular play dates. She's a partner at Brogan & Partner's Convergence Marketing in Birmingham where she's been developing marketing strategy for healthcare and social marketing clients for 15 years. She skis, likes to hike, and is an avid photographer.

But in August of 2007, Ellyn became an active member of a group that she never wanted to join when she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at age 36. Her activity list changed suddenly and drastically for the next year as she underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and reconstructive surgery. Besides actively battling cancer, she continued with activities that revolved around her family life with husband Jon, daughter Lacey (8), and sons Brett (6), and Seth (2).

Today Ellyn's still battling cancer as an active player on the Survivor team. Back to work at Brogan and feeling great, Ellyn recently found that her breast cancer world and her professional world were colliding in a very meaningful way. Ellyn led the team at Brogan & Partners and its sister company Ignite Social Media, to launch The Breast Cancer and Prostate Cancer Tax Check-Off Initiative for her long-time client, The Michigan Department of Community Health. To generate enthusiasm about the Initiative and spread the word, Ellyn's team developed a social media campaign at http://michigancancer.org/taxcheck-off.cfm, where visitors can sign a pledge, grab a badge for a facebook/myspace page, website or blog and share with friends, and become a fan on facebook.

The program adds the two new funds to the Voluntary Contributions Schedule (Form 4642) associated with 2008 State of Michigan tax forms. Dollars collected for the Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment Initiative, called Amanda's Fund, go directly to the Michigan Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP), which provides free breast and cervical cancer screening services to low-income women in our state. Donations designated for the Prostate Cancer Research Fund will be used to support prostate cancer research in Michigan.

"I consider myself incredibly lucky that I found my cancer early and had access to the best treatment," Davidson said. "I want to do everything I can to make sure that all women have access to early detection and excellent care."

Ellyn's piled her plate full with activities again, as a local outreach coordinator for Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE), and fundraising with her breast cancer 3-Day Team called Ta Ta Breast Cancer, which raised over $86,000 last year. She's also on the host committee for Camp Kids All Together and the Bear Hug Foundation's Hibernation Celebration.

Yep, life's back to normal for Ellyn Davidson.