Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer: A Beacon of Hope

St. Mary’s gives thanks to BBBC for enhancing breast cancer care

Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer: A Beacon of Hope

St. Mary’s gives thanks to BBBC for enhancing breast cancer care

Over the past 13 years, Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer and St. Mary's have built a lasting relationship, and our partnership strengthens each year. Created by Jay and Teresa Abbott with the help of Dwight and Leslie Standridge and hundreds of supporters, BBBC has created a legacy that will help women and their families for years to come.

Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer gave their very first gift to St. Mary's Foundation – $18,000 – in 2009. Every year since then, their annual check to the Foundation has increased, often by leaps and bounds. Their most recent donation to St. Mary’s – the product of their 2021 golf tournaments and other fundraising – was the largest yet at $165,000! That’s 9 TIMES the size of their first gift. Their cumulative giving to St. Mary's Foundation is in excess of $1 million.

“Because of Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer’s support, we have been able to improve technology and expand services to patients in need of breast health care in the communities we serve,” said Ansley Martin, senior development officer for St. Mary’s Foundation. “They are truly a beacon of hope for those impacted by breast cancer across our region.”

BBBC was founded by Jay and Teresa after Teresa’s 18-month fight against breast cancer. In October 2003, Teresa was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of Stage 3 breast cancer. After months of surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation, she was pronounced cancer-free. During this time, their youngest son, Chris, was playing football at UGA. After Teresa’s clean bill of health, the entire Abbott family decided they wanted to do something to help fight this horrible disease and give back for all the blessings and support they received during her fight. With the help of then-UGA Football Coach Mark Richt and the UGA Football Team, the following summer, the 1st Annual Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer Charity Golf Tournament was organized and Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer was born.

Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer’s goal is to fight breast cancer through early detection and assistance to women in need who may not have the resources to get the services they need to fight this disease.

BBBC’s signature event is the annual BBBC Charity Golf Tournament, held in July at The Georgia Club in Statham. Now in its 18th year, this event teams participants with players, coaches and staff from the UGA Football team and Athletics Department. BBBC also hosts a two-day Summer Golf Classic in August at the Currahee Golf Club near Toccoa, now in its 8th year. In addition, BBBC hosts numerous other fundraisers and events, including raffles, concerts, auctions and more.

BBBC donations, along with donations from BreastFest/The Tyanna Foundation, Thomas Eye Center, and other donors, have helped St. Mary’s provide:

• Hundreds of no-cost mammograms to uninsured women in our region
• 3D mammography machines
• 3D mammography workstation for breast health radiologists
• Handbooks for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients
• MRI-safe IV infusion pump

St. Mary’s continues to work with Teresa, Jay, and everyone at BBBC to continually bring state-of-the-art services and technology to our breast cancer program. We are especially pleased we can now include breast surgery specialist Dr. Kathleen Jeffery and St. Mary’s Breast Health Center in our planning for future needs, Ansley notes.