Breast Cancer Survivor Honored in Biloxi

Breast cancer survivor and Biloxi native Paulette Leaphart was honored at the Biloxi City Council meeting today for making a more than 1,000 mile walk to Washington, D.C. topless.
Leaphart was surrounded by friends and family as she received the proclamation from Mayor Gilich. Back in April, Paulette and her daughter set out to raise awareness, bringing her concerns to congress hoping to inspire change in the healthcare system.
She spent five days with members of congress working on a cancer relief bill. Paulette hopes the bill helps those suffering with breast cancer to receive assistance with medication and treatments that can cost up to $5,000 a month.
“My walk across the country had many purposes, but the main purpose was to take the stigma and the shame away from women like myself who undergone the double mastectomy without reconstruction and I took that shame a thousand miles and I laid it at the feet of congress because that’s where the shame belongs. That in this country, that life-saving medications are costing us that much,” said Leaphart.
Leaphart and her family all wore yellow today. Leaphart says she appreciates that pink supports awareness, but she wears yellow to represent hope and healing.