Prep Scene-By Mitch McDonald Former track and field standout spreading breast cancer awareness

As a sprinter for St. Paul Central’s track and field team during the early 1980s, ROSALYN SMALLER made a difference. The St. Paul native, who still holds the City Conference record in the 100 meters (12.14), is trying to make a difference by spreading awareness about breast cancer.

Smaller, who is herself a breast cancer survivor, has her own nonprofit organization (RZI COTURE BUTTERFLY FOR LIFE) and has established a fashion merchandising website (RZI COTURE) promoting breast cancer awareness.

In May she held her First Annual Breast Cancer Walk and held a Breast Cancer Fashion Premiere entitled SILHOUETTES by RZI COTURE last October.

Smaller (RS), 46, a proud mother and grandmother, spoke with me (MPM) recently about her motivation to spread awareness.

MPM: When were you diagnosed and how long were your treatments?

RS: I was diagnosed in February 2010 and the treatments lasted nearly a year.
MPM: What were the circumstances that led to your breast cancer diagnosis?

RS: One day I decided to give myself a breast exam, and I felt a small lump. This was the strange thing. I had already made myself a doctor’s appointment for that week before I found the lump. So the doctors ran some tests and they told me I had breast cancer.

MPM: What was your initial reaction to your diagnosis?

RS: I was devastated at first, but I had to be optimistic about the situation as I knew God was going to get me through it.

MPM: What motivated you to coordinate the breast cancer walk?

RS: I was inspired by all the women I knew who had breast cancer in the community. My motivation was recognizing that something positive that needed to be done for the African American women in my community. There was too much silence about this disease, and I felt after my Breast Cancer Fashion Premiere I would coordinate a walk.

MPM: Who were the people or organizations that supported you?

RS: The survivors of breast cancer, my family, my community, my church, and people that wanted to support.

MPM: What motivated you to coordinate the fashion show?

RS: My journey has brought me to realize that there are many women like me who are fighting breast cancer, are survivors and in need of support. Foundations and affiliated organizations for the cause don’t have the resources for various essentials that would make being a breast cancer patient/survivor a little palatable.

With that, RZI COUTURE has turned all of their efforts and focus towards using my talents and partnerships to raise awareness and monetary support for those with breast cancer, and so was the birth of SILHOUETTES by RZICOUTURE which I created for the First Annual Breast Cancer Benefit Fashion Premiere.

MPM: Why is it important to you to spread breast cancer awareness?

RS: Because so many people are scared of the word cancer. Once you are diagnosed with it, it’s like you’re in a world all by yourself. I want people to know that they are not by themselves. It is my hope to get awareness of the support groups in the community.

MPM: What advice would you give to anyone about breast cancer awareness?

RS: That anyone at any age and any time can get cancer. Go see your doctor on a regular basis, get those mammograms, eat right and exercise and try to be stress free — and I know it’s easier said than done. That’s why you need that awareness out there and to keep people motivated and encouraged to do what they think is right for them to stay healthy, so we can stop this disease from occurring.

MPM: What advice would you give to any breast cancer survivors?

RS: Put God first. Let him see you through it. What you go through is your way out, and if you haven’t already started, get on a new path of living right, because you don’t want that cancer to come back.

MPM: Is there anything you would like to add?

RS: Let people know that RZI COUTURE BUTTERFLY FOR LIFE will be a nonprofit organization for women going through breast cancer and breast cancer survivors as well. Let people know about coming events, purchases of my designs, etc.

Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mmcdonald@spokesman-recorder.com.