Meet Our Legends

2011 Honoree - Jacquie Connell

This year’s honoree is Jacquie Connell, was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in the spring of 2009, and at the time of her diagnosis the cancer had spread to her bones and other areas in her body.   Jacquie is fighting hard, her treatment and pain medications are making it possible to do what she loves to do best…paint! She has created a painting around breast cancer so she can sell the prints to raise money for the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition and the breast cancer cause.  She is also teaching a monthly painting class to cancer survivors. With all the challenges she is facing personally, she continues to think about other people and the good that she can do. 

2010 Honoree - Jennifer Wickersham

This year’s honoree is Jennifer Wickersham, who has not only displayed the strength, courage and grace but has continued to raise awareness and encourage others with breast cancer to better understand the disease and seek treatment not only through her efforts but in support of programs with DBCC and the American Cancer Society.

2009 Honoree - Renee Ridernour

Renee Ridenour is our 2009 honoree. When Renee and her husband Tom started their business, Pine Mountain Springs in 1994 they realized that giving back to their community was important in both their personal and professional lives. Through Pine Mountain Springs, Renee and Tom donate water and other products to 30 or 40 events every year. In addition, they donate their time to many of these events and ask for nothing in return. Renee has served as the volunteer photographer at an average of 25 events each year. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, Renee has battled the "beast" with incredible strength and humor. She has used her charitable spirit to both raise awareness and educate women about breast cancer. She appeared on the runway at the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition for Northern Lights of Life and has also appeared on CN8's "It's Your Call". We are happy to honor her this year.

2008 Honoree - Carolyn Adams

For Carolyn Adams, her greatest joys come from raising nine children, watching her grandchildren grow, the arrival of great-grandchildren, working as a school paraprofessional, and sharing life with her amazing husband of 58 years, Paul. In 1997, Carolyn was diagnosed with breast cancer after the birth of her 24th grandchild. Carolyn was determined to enjoy life's blessings and faced her cancer with a quiet dignity and humor that she had exhibited all her life. As someone who has always put her family and friends first, her fight with cancer continues to give strength to those around her. Her shining example as a mother, grandmother, wife, and mentor to her two daughters, who are also breast cancer survivors, inspired the conception of The Legend Classic. She would often comment about women she met in treatment who were in need of support. She never looked at herself as a patient but rather a comforter to those she met during her treatments. In 2006, Carolyn's breast cancer returned, but this time with an uncertain future. This new bout with cancer has certainly tested Carolyn's patience, humor, and faith. Carolyn continues to be a woman who people look up to for her strength. Her dream is for her grandchildren and great-children to live in a cancer-free world. She thrives on the support of family and friends and she proves that sometimes "survivor" doesn't mean living without cancer, but rather living in spite of cancer. It is with great heartfelt love that we honor Carolyn Adams.

2007 Honoree - Tia Clarke

Ms. Tia Clarke: A two-time breast cancer survivor. Her first battle with breast cancer led her to a new career and a new way of life. She gives back with her unbelievable talents of song, and struts down runways modeling for breast cancer awareness with her signature baldhead; a symbol for those who also struggle with this cancer. Tia gives of her time freely by being a peer educator for the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition’s M.A.A.M. program whose focus is to educate African American women between the ages of 40-64 on their risk factors. She is a true leader in her community as well a leader in the fight against breast cancer in the State of Delaware. It was a unanimous decision that we chose her as this year’s legend honoree. Please help us in supporting this cause and honoring a truly amazing woman. To learn more about Ms. Tia Clarke and her efforts in battling breast cancer, please visit her website at www.tiaclarkejazzsinger.com. Sadly, Tia passed away in November of 2008. A $1,000 donation in her name was made to the DE Breast Cancer Coalition.

2006 Honoree - Mary Meyer

Mary Meyer: Nicknamed “The Legend” by her friends at Three Little Bakers, Mary was a 20 year survivor of breast cancer until a recurrence of the disease took her life several years ago. Mary’s kindness, courage, and exuberance of spirit endeared her to everyone she met. All proceeds from the 2006 Legend Classic tournament were donated to Christiana Care and Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition in Mary’s memory. We recently received this loving note from one of Mary's dear friends, Chris Laudern, that explains the origin of our foundation's name. "Mary Meyer was a wonderful person and my senior golf partner at Three Little Bakers in the junior/senior golf tournament for many years. She was always upbeat, full of life and loved the game of golf. I gave her the nickname "The Legend" and she was my inspiration." We are honored to keep her memory alive with our annual golf tournament.