Barbra Watson-Riley
Pinkwellchick Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in memory of Barbra Watson-Riley, our original PinkWellChick.
After a courageous and vibrant life “in the cancer lane”, the journey of our Pinkwellchick®, aka Barbra Watson-Riley, ended on November 7, 2013. She gave an amazingly valiant and dignified fight and triumphs over death by leaving the world the legacy of her play highlighting survivor stories, Life in the Cancer Lane. It was truly a miracle for her to witness her life’s work come to life on stage just weeks before she transitioned.
She was born to Dr. Bernard and Lois Watson, who survive her, on January 28, 1968 in Philadelphia, PA. Barbra received a BA degree in Political Science from Northwestern University in 1990 and a JD from the Washington University (St. Louis) School of Law in 1993. She also studied international law in Cuernavaca, Mexico, lived in France on two occasions and was fluent in French and Spanish. She married the love of her life, Brendon Riley, on October 14, 1995.
Barbra was an attorney who held positions at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and at New York University’s Department of African and African-American Studies. She was a law clerk at the US Court of Appeals for the Third and Eighth Circuits as well as a consultant for LexisNexis, a member of the Reid Elsevier Group of Companies. Barbra also ran her own event planning business, “The Fete Group”, before leaving the workforce to raise her daughter, Blayre, and dedicate herself to philanthropy.
Barbra was a passionate advocate for women’s health. She was a board member of the Central and Northern Arizona Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Phoenix Affiliate of Dress for Success, a founding member of the Coalition of Blacks Against Breast Cancer (CBBC), and an American Heart Association Ambassador. One of Barbra’s proudest achievements was her composition of “Life In The Cancer Lane” – a compilation of stories of breast cancer survivors that she lived to see brought to life on stage only weeks before her passing.
Barbra was a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Silver Star), The Links, Inc., Jack and Jill of America, and The Junior League.
The message below was originally posted by Barbra and we retain her description to maintain her voice on this website.
You can also experience Barbra’s cancer *real talk* as she shares the 4-1-1 and 9-1-1 of her life in the cancer lane. She poignantly shares her advice, her wisdom, her joys and fears; her survivor story. Visit InkWellChicks.com.
Pinkwellchick® grew out of the desire to get people talking about breast and heart issues that we tend to ignore, as we go about our daily lives. It also led to my play that give voice to the essence of survivor stories, Life in the Cancer Lane.
Sharing my story with Coalition of Blacks Against Breast Cancer!
I have been a women’s health advocate for over a decade. My primary concentration has been on breast and heart health. In September 2011, I was diagnosed with aggressive Stage 2, grade 3, triple negative breast cancer, a few months after a clear mammogram. My treatment has included chemotherapy, double mastectomy, and radiation. As a result, I now have a more complete understanding of how this disease affects a family, a community. I have a renewed excitement for working towards a “cure”, giving “cancerrealtalk”, and creating awareness by any means necessary!
I am also a heart heath ambassador! Over the years, I have watched a close friend’s family, and my community be ripped apart by various heart problems that could have been prevented. We must do better!
Pinkwellchick® resources are intended to help guide your journey, to educate, and enable you to take control of your health.
Think of me as that friend who wants to share tough information in a fun way, and keep people talking!
Enjoy the Pink Ink…
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Meals … prescription support … cleaning, childcare & counseling services … transportation, lodging and MORE!
PinkWellChick Foundation, Inc. 