BCRFA is on the front lines of Alabama’s fight against breast cancer

With a mission to help find a cure for breast cancer by funding promising breast cancer research in Alabama and to raise awareness and funding through that research, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA) is on the front lines of the fight against breast cancer, investing nearly $14 million in Alabama-based breast cancer research, and bringing hope to those who are affected by the disease. Over 90 percent of every donation received supports the BCRFA mission. 

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA) was founded in 1996 after Dolly O’Neal, a breast cancer survivor, and Bruce Sokol, whose wife was undergoing treatment for breast cancer, met through the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Each had a deep desire to fight the disease. From that mutual passion, the BCRFA was born. 

Today, the BCRFA continues to uphold the work started by O’Neal and Sokol as they partner with individuals and businesses across the state to fund collaborative and innovative research to help diagnose, treat, prevent, and eradicate breast cancer.  

Last year, the BCRFA invested a total of $1.275 million in breast cancer research—and every penny  stayed in Alabama. Their 2022 investment fueled 24 research projects in seven partner institutes across the state, including:  

• The O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB  
• CerFlux (Birmingham) 
• The Mitchell Cancer Institute/University of South Alabama (Mobile) 

• Auburn University 
• Tuskegee University  
• HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology (Huntsville) 
• The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) 

Join the fight 

With 1 in 8 women – and 1 in 1,000 men – diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s all hands on deck to  eliminate this devastating disease. Not sure where to start? Alabama’s “Breast Cancer Research” specialty license plate is a great place to jump in. The tag directly supports the BCRFA mission while raising awareness. It’s available for cars, trucks, boats and motorcycles and 100 percent of funds received go straight to local research. In 2022 alone, over $600,000 was raised from specialty tag sales. 

Another way to get involved is by sponsoring or attending BCRFA community events or hosting your own fundraiser, particularly heading into October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Last year more than 50 companies and organizations partnered with the BCRFA during October to raise over $210,000 to support breast cancer research in Alabama. From across the state, businesses big and small mobilized their employees, supporters, and customers in the fight against breast cancer.  

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama is eager to work with new fundraising partners this Breast Cancer Awareness Month and can provide tools and support to any interested company or community.