It started with a promise.

In 1980, Suzy Komen died of breast cancer at the age of 36 — at a time when people whispered the words “women’s cancer” and newspapers wouldn’t even print “breast.” The disease carried shame and silence. Talking about it publicly was taboo. Funding was scarce. Research was minimal.

Before Suzy died, she asked her sister Nancy to do something — anything — to make sure other families didn’t suffer the way theirs had. Nancy promised she would.

In 1982, with nothing but a shoebox full of names, a few volunteers, and her own fierce determination, Nancy launched what would become Susan G. Komen — the largest and most influential breast cancer organization in the world.

The movement began in big, bold 1980s Dallas — fueled by local women, grassroots energy, and a sense of urgency. Long before hashtags and viral videos, it spread the old-fashioned way: door to door, city to city, woman to woman. Stories were shared. Affiliates were formed. Communities were mobilized.

Nancy faced ridicule and rejection. Major companies turned her down. Many didn’t want to talk about breast cancer — some even laughed at the idea. But she kept going, using marketing savvy, political strategy, and relentless drive to get the issue on the national agenda.

What followed was a public health revolution:

• Over $3.6 billion invested in research, treatment, and community outreach

• A new model of cause marketing that reshaped nonprofit fundraising

• The creation of Race for the Cure, the first mass-participation peer-to-peer fundraising event

• The pink ribbon, now a universal symbol of hope, survivorship, and solidarity

This film tells the story of how one woman’s promise to her sister sparked a movement that transformed how we talk about — and fight — breast cancer.

It’s a story of loss and love, of grit and grace, and of how a single voice can change the world.