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At 40, she thought, 'I'm going to die'

Shannon Greyer, Jan Richards and Karen Conley pose with Pardee's breast cancer awareness bear.

Cancer survivors and supporters of screenings and treatment for women with cancer on Friday honored three “Women of Hope” who demonstrated courage and grace when they were diagnosed and treated for cancer.


“Women Helping Women” has raised more than $2 million since it was created, including $125,000 in this year’s event, which drew a record 400 people and moved to the Blue Ridge Conference Hall at BRCC because of the size.
Pardee President Jay Kirby said he had recently see a favorite Bible verse — Luke 12:48 — painted above a baseball dugout: “To whom much is given, much is demanded.”
“What’s so special is that everybody in this room has given much more than financial resources,” he said. “They give hope. Everyone here is a woman of hope or a man of hope.”

Here are the 2015 Women of Hope and their stories in their own words.

Shannon Greyer


“From the moment I received the diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in-situ cancer following my very first mammogram I knew my life was about to change,” Greyer said. “As I sat alone in a darkened room awaiting the doctor, I was terrified. I thought, “I am only 40 years old and I’m going to die.’ Dr. Timmerman explained my treatment options and I elected to have a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. I relied on my family and friends to give me strength to fight this dreadful disease. I have spent the last 2½ years recovering from five surgical procedures, all of which have been successful.
“Dr. Overstreet has been my savior, putting me back together again as a woman. I had to remain positive and hopeful for my two sons. I want them to see their mother as a determined woman who has a greater understanding of herself and a hopeful attitude for the future. I feel like a new woman and I’m grateful to Dr. Timmerman, Dr. Overstreet and the staff at Pardee Hospital whose support never faded.”


Jan Richards

“During my cancer journey, I came to realize how important my spiritual faith, the love of my family, and the support of my friends were in sustaining me during my diagnosis and recovery.
“The diagnosis of breast cancer was something I didn’t expect. After all, I was a healthy female, who had regular check-ups (although I had missed my annual mammogram the previous year), tried to eat nutritional foods and exercised regularly. There was no direct family history of breast cancer yet I felt prepared when I received THE diagnosis…I’d always known which general surgeon, which plastic surgeon — if necessary — and which hospital I would use! Was it God’s way of preparing me without me knowing it? Having a supportive and loving husband and sons who were very concerned meant the world to me.
“When a few unavoidable medical complications occurred with my reconstruction and necessary double knee replacements a couple years later, I continued to feel the presence of God, and the prayers of my family and friends during my challenging rehabilitation process. The care and concern of both clinical and administrative staff from Pardee Hospital reconfirmed my confidence that I was in the right place. I am able to stand before you today having grown as a woman of stronger faith and now proud to be a Woman of Hope.”

Karen Conley


“I was born and raised in New York City, mostly in the Bronx. Studied and worked in Manhattan, was married in 1977 and moved to the Hudson River Valley where I worked with my husband, editing and captioning photos for his international photography business. Fortunately I was able to accompany him on many overseas adventures in Europe, Asia and Africa.
“I later ventured back to Manhattan and studied at the New York Restaurant School’s Professional Catering Program. With that under my belt I opened the Cuisine Team in 1986 in Upstate New York.
“We decided to leave the Big Apple for North Carolina Apple Country in 1990. I started Cuisine Team here in Hendersonville and have been catering every since. 25 years!
“My passions are, of course, cooking, Greyhound Rescue — I’ve adopted six so far — the Flat Rock Playhouse — I love that place — but my heart is in the open savannahs of Southern Africa mingling with the magnificent wildlife there in their natural habitat. For me nothing compares to watching a herd of elephants, a pride of lions or a journey of giraffe living their lives in the great, open plains of Africa!
“After my annual screening in September, 1996, I was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. My life was in turmoil as my husband had just moved out and my father died so the cancer was just one more thing to cope with. After much research and discussion I decided to have a mastectomy because I would probably not need any after surgery treatments, I had to make a living! The decision was right for me. Here I am 19 years later and cancer free. I am so thankful to the doctors at Pardee who saved my life by very early detection. Thank you and I urge all of you to have yearly screenings.”