Tributes poured in on Saturday following the death of actress Shannen Doherty, a well-known breast cancer awareness advocate.
“She was an inspiration, an advocate, she believed in early detection and she will be greatly missed by us at the Cayman Islands Breast Cancer Foundation,” Beverly Edgington, the organization’s Chief Administrator, told the Cayman Compass on Sunday.
Doherty, who delivered the keynote address at the Breast Cancer Foundation Cayman Islands annual fundraising gala in 2018, died on Saturday at the age of 53.
A statement from her publicist, Leslie Sloane, which was cited by People magazine, confirmed that the star of the ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ and ‘Charmed’, lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease.
The actress was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and underwent a mastectomy.
She had been battling cancer since then.
Doherty, when she attended the 2018 gala in Cayman, spoke candidly about her struggle coming to terms with her diagnosis.
She admitted that it was difficult to be in the public eye while getting to grips with the news herself.
She said, “There was a lot of fear … the fear of ‘how will it impact my career?’ … but then you start embracing it, when you realize how many people you’re helping by just sharing your own experience and that you’re really showing that cancer doesn’t discriminate”.
Edgington said the Board and staff of the Breast Cancer Foundation were “very sad” to hear of Doherty’s passing, saying that the team there had kept in touch since being the guest speaker at the 2018 Gala.
“She was inspirational and encouraged all breast cancer warriors to use their diagnosis as a time to take stock and truly reflect on what you want from your life,” she said as she reflected on Doherty’s advice to them then. “We’re vibrant, and we have such a different outlook on life. We are people who want to work and embrace life and keep moving forward.”
She said Doherty took time out to speak with each of the ladies, which was welcomed and admired.
The next gala is on 5 Oct. at the Ritz. It will mark the Foundation’s 15th anniversary.
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