Genna Garver, an attorney in Bracewell's Connecticut office serves as the Connecticut Ambassador for Bright Pink, a nonprofit organization that provides education, support and a sense of community to young women who are at a high risk for breast and ovarian cancer. A nationwide organization, Bright Pink actively hosts events in Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, Vermont, Ohio, New York, Texas, California, Missouri, and Washington, D.C.
Ms. Garver became involved with Bright Pink in 2007 after contacting Founder and Executive Director, Lindsay Avner, through CNN.com's Young People Who Rock blog. Ms. Garver originally turned to the organization for support, having tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation in 2002, she opted for a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy in 2007. Today, she is President of Bright Pink in Connecticut, serving as a peer counselor and advocate for a network of high risk women.
In the inaugural year of Bright Pink's Connecticut chapter, Ms. Garver worked to build a community for young, high risk women through a series of fun and educational Face-to-Face Outreach Events. Through events like hot yoga, dessert baking and panel discussions with medical professionals regarding surveillance and prophylactic surgeries, Bright Pink Connecticut offers a positive experience for high risk women by engaging them in discussions on their personal experiences and providing support. In addition to planning Face-to-Face Outreach Events, Ms. Garver also actively participates in the Bright Pink PinkPal™ program by providing one-on-one guidance and support to other high risk women.
"Bright Pink Face-to-Face Outreach Events are support groups, turned on their heads!" Ms. Garver said. "Unlike a standard support group, where a room full of people gather in a dreary, sterile environment, Bright Pink Outreach Events take place in the context of a fun activity, such as a yoga class, wine and cheese tasting or pottery painting, and are followed by an organized and facilitated discussion relevant to being young and at high risk [for breast and ovarian cancer]."
When asked what the most rewarding aspect of her involvement with Bright Pink is, Ms. Garver says it is "providing women with access to information [regarding early breast and ovarian cancer prevention] that is not readily available, and connecting them with medical professionals who have the necessary experience."
