Go Out There and Continue to Make a Difference

Women's History Month isn't about making history, according to the keynote speaker at Team Redstone's annual observance program March 5.

"It's about women making a difference," Liz Hurley, news anchor for WAFF Channel 48, said.

She has definitely done that.

Hurley told the estimated 275 people in Bob Jones Auditorium about her experience as a breast cancer survivor. She was diagnosed in 1998 with an aggressive form of breast cancer and went on to establish the Liz Hurley Breast Cancer Fund at the Huntsville Hospital Foundation.

"It's the leading cause of death in women age 35-54," Hurley said.

Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 30 and died six years later, when Hurley was 12.

When Hurley learned of her own disease, she shared her story publicly by documenting her experience on videotape and then counseling women with breast cancer. She went on to establish the fund at Huntsville Hospital. Last year a breast MRI was purchased for $1.3 million at the hospital; and it is the only such machine in North Alabama.

"Don't just make history," she said. "Go out there and continue to make a difference."

Ronnie Chronister, deputy to the commander of the Aviation and Missile Command, delivered the closing remarks at the program.

"Liz, what a great message," he said. "And one we can all take back and make our difference."

Women's History Month contest winners included the following:

Aca,!Ac Essays - first place, Doris A. Allgor of AMCOM; second, Linda Myszka of NASA; and third, Lawanna Harvey of AMCOM G-4.

Aca,!Ac Displays - first place, Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space; and second, 2nd Army Recruiting Brigade.