Julie Ratner, the chair of the New York-based Ellen Hermanson Foundation, has been a champion of breast cancer research since the foundation’s start in 1997. She talked about the foundation’s upcoming events and how she continues to uphold her sister’s legacy.
What was the impetus for launching the foundation?
I started the foundation with my late sister, Emily Levin, in 1997, one year after the First Annual Ellen's Run to honor the memory of our younger sister, Ellen Hermanson. At the age of 36 and with a 6-month old baby, Ellen was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. With courage, grace and grit, Ellen faced her disease and used her time to lavish all her love on her daughter, Leora, and husband, Hugo. As her disease progressed, Ellen used her great intellect and diminishing strength to advocate for educational outreach about breast health, early detection and pain management — most especially to medically underserved communities of women.
Your work at the Ellen Hermanson Breast Center is incredible. What are you working on today?
Our foundation collaborates with the Ellen Hermanson Breast Center at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital to identify areas of need that need attention. Over the past two years, the foundation has committed to raising funds for a new tomosynthesis system. In layperson's terms, tomosynthesis is the most sophisticated and advanced technology in mammography. In addition to our collaboration with the hospital, we have Ellen's Well, a free psychosocial support program facilitated by an oncological social worker, and a Community Partnership program with four organizations: the Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center, OLA, (Organización Latino-Americana of the East End), The Retreat–All Against Abuse, and The Shinnecock Indian Health Center.
You have two events this summer. Can you share them with us?
We hosted the foundation's Summer Gala on Saturday, July 13, with an after-party bonfire on the beach at the Bridgehampton Tennis & Surf Club. Our second big event is the 29th annual Ellen's Run Sunday, Aug. 18, at 9 a.m. at the Southampton Intermediate School.
What’s next for the foundation?
To continue what we are doing to raise money to continue funding state-of-the-art technology and expand our services to women who live on the margins and are medically at risk.