Dr. John L. Bell was presented the 2008 Community Advocate Award by the Knoxville Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure on September 12, 2008 at its annual Survivor Luncheon. The award honors an individual who has provided exceptional support and advocacy to the Komen mission “to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.”

Dr. Bell is a surgical oncologist and serves as director of the Cancer Institute at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

Presenting the award was Jane Brannon, executive director of the Knoxville Affiliate. Well wishers included wife Beverly Bell and colleagues Dr. James Lewis, Dr. Lisa Duncan, Renee Hawk, Linda Cruze, Rev. George Doebbler, Catherine Clayton, Peggy Iachetta, Vanessa Bramble, Sonya Duncan and Teri Green.

More than 500 breast cancer survivors and their guests were entertained by comedian Leanne Morgan. WBIR anchor Russell Biven served as master of ceremonies. Joe Jackson, 2008 Race Chair, invited everyone to attend the 12th Annual Race for the Cure on Saturday, Oct. 11 at World’s Fair Park.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and the Komen Knoxville Affiliate
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement.

The Knoxville Affiliate of Komen for the Cure is working to better the lives of those facing breast cancer in the local community joining more than 1 million breast cancer survivors and activists around the globe as part of the world’s largest and most progressive grassroots network fighting breast cancer. Through events like the Komen Knoxville Race for the Cure, the Knoxville Affiliate has invested more than $3 million dollars in community breast health programs in 16 East Tennessee counties since 1997. Up to 75 percent of net proceeds generated by the Affiliate stays in the Knoxville area. The remaining income goes to the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure Grants Program to fund research. For more information, call 865.588.0902 or visit www.komenknoxville.org.  

About The University of Tennessee Medical Center
The University of Tennessee Medical Center is a 581-bed, not-for-profit academic medical center, which serves as a referral center for Eastern Tennessee, Southeast Kentucky and Western North Carolina. The medical center, the region’s only Level I Trauma Center, is one of the largest employers in Knoxville.