Yvette Davis-Atkins

Story: "In July 2012, my husband, Len, had his yearly physical and called me on the way home to tell me that he received an excellent report, and I could not get rid of him yet. We went to the county fair a month later, and he complained about pain in his side. We thought it was because we had been on a ride that jerked us around. Two weeks later, he was still complaining and said he was going to the doctor. I immediately left work to meet him there because this was not a normal situation. He received a scan and then was immediately scheduled for a colonoscopy. The results were not what we imagined — stage IV colon cancer  — and we were in a battle from that day forward. Len was 47, and our son was 11. At the young age of 48, Len was gone. His battle lasted only nine months."

My Mission: "Just because our story did not go the way we wanted, that doesn’t mean others can't have the opportunity to have effective treatment options and be cured. So now I am all about prevention and fundraising. I am hosting a golf tournament to benefit Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC) this year."

“I fight for my husband who is no longer here, and I fight to help others so they do not suffer as my family did.”

--Yvette Davis-Atkins

"I am active in this community to help make colon cancer as commonly discussed as breast cancer. I am excited to be a 2022 ambassador for Fight CRC to educate others about colorectal cancer and tell my family's story."

Advice: "One day, life may seem ideal and the next day, it can turn tragic. People need to learn their family history and become knowledgeable about colon cancer screening. I encourage those who are 45 and older to get screened. Even those under 45 should know the symptoms so they can advocate for themselves when someone says, 'You are too young to have colon cancer.' No one is ever too young or old for this disease—take my family’s word for it."