Bellarmine's 'Nana' Walks Kentucky Oaks After Cancer Win
Sarah Colvin, beloved Bellarmine caterer known as "Nana," will walk the Churchill Downs track May 1 after beating breast cancer. For 26 years she worked behind the scenes at Oaks events, but this year she'll be front and center as a survivor.
After 26 years working behind the scenes at Kentucky Derby and Oaks events, Sarah Colvin is finally stepping into the spotlight for the best possible reason.
The Bellarmine University catering worker, affectionately called "Nana" by students who line up for her daily hugs, will walk in the Kentucky Oaks Survivors Parade on May 1. She's one of 150 breast and ovarian cancer survivors who will take the Churchill Downs racetrack before thousands of cheering spectators.
Getting to this moment wasn't easy. Colvin's demanding job means long days pushing heavy carts and walking miles on her feet, so when her chest felt sore, she brushed it off as work strain.
"I never thought, never thought the breast cancer thing," Colvin said. She had no family history and felt no lump.
When her husband got sick, Colvin let her own health slide and missed her regular mammogram. She was at work when her doctor called with the diagnosis, but true to form, she finished her catering event before going home.
Months of surgery and radiation at Norton Healthcare followed. Now Colvin is cancer-free and already planning her parade outfit, complete with dress and fascinator.
Her granddaughter Lucie, a Bellarmine junior, said the recognition is well-deserved. "She's just a really special person," Lucie said, adding with a smile that Nana sometimes slips her extra food too.
Sunny's Take
There's something beautiful about a woman who spent decades caring for others finally being celebrated herself. Colvin's story captures what makes her special: even on the day she learned she had cancer, she stayed to finish serving others first.
But her message now is clear. "If I don't take care of me, I won't get to see all of them," she said, urging women to stay current on mammograms.
The numbers back her up. One in eight women will develop breast cancer, but early detection changes everything: 99% of early-stage patients survive at least five years when caught through screening.
Come May 1, thousands will cheer as Nana takes her victory lap around Churchill Downs, finally front of house where she belongs.
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Based on reporting by Google News - Cancer Survivor
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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