Colorado Women's Hall of Fame

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Sue Miller

Inductee Name

Sue Miller

Date of Birth

1934

Year Inducted

2002

Category

Activism & Advocacy

Sponsor

Day of Caring for Breast Cancer Awareness

Impact

Colorado

Sue Miller is a former Denver fashion model who learned she had breast cancer in 1971. Since then, she has fought fear and public ignorance about the disease. Ten years after the diagnosis, this mother of three agreed to stage a fashion show on the condition that all the models be breast cancer survivors. That event for the Denver Metropolitan Mastectomy Club became the first Day of Caring for Breast Cancer Awareness, which is now an annual event in nine cities around the country. These consumer-driven, volunteer-run, and self-supporting educational forums are not fund-raisers. The Day of Caring provides information about preventing, treating, and surviving breast cancer. It helps cancer patients reduce their fear and gain hope.

After her diagnosis, Miller organized Pre-surgical Partners, a telephone network of local breast cancer survivors who served as special friends to new breast cancer patients throughout their treatment and recovery. She was also instrumental in convincing the Colorado legislature to require health care organizations to provide mammograms for women over 40. She also influenced federal funding for breast cancer research. Miller has brought support organizations together to stem the tide of ignorance about breast cancer and gather support for those who need it most. She has received many honors for her life’s work, including the Bea Romer Women’s Health Leadership Award, the Jacque Mattson Volunteer Award, the Sabin Award from the Arthritis Foundation, and the Savvy Award for Outstanding Volunteerism.