Kellie Pickler has stood beside her best friend—a childhood friend who Pickler refers to as her “sister”—Summer Holt Miller throughout her breast cancer prognosis and subsequent treatment since receiving word of the diagnosis in June of this year, but yesterday in Nashville, Tenn., the inseparable duo took their stance against cancer one step further when they both buzzed their hair to bring awareness to the importance of early detection. As revealed on ABC’s Good Morning America exclusively, Pickler and Miller shared their story as Miller was just 36 years old when she received word of her diagnosis.
“Cancer does not discriminate,” an emphatic Pickler shared with viewers. “If this compels even one person to change their mentality toward waiting until the age of 40 for their mammogram, then it will be worth it,” Miller echoed.
Miller, aware of her family’s history of breast cancer, had always been super cautious with her self-examinations, but had the mother of two not been diligent with her doctor and requested a mammogram, the tumor detected in its early stage could have turned fatal. Miller recently underwent a double mastectomy and will begin chemotherapy this Thursday.
A behind-the-scenes video capturing the ladies’ cuts and truthful candor about Miller’s diagnosis and treatment will be shared on Athena® Water’s website, www.athenawater.com, and Athena® will make a monetary donation to the American Cancer Society in Miller’s honor. Athena® will contribute a minimum of $2 million to support breast cancer awareness, care, education and research by 2014.
“So many people feel helpless when a loved one is diagnosed with breast cancer,” says Athena® CEO Dillon Schickli. “Athena gives everyone the chance to make a difference, with every bottle of water, 365 days of the year.” For every bottle of water purchased, a portion of the proceeds benefits breast cancer awareness.
Photo Credits: Russ Harrington