Dianne F. Lemmons Endowment Fund

Jim Lemmons initiated the first named endowment fund for Breast Cancer Recovery with a gift of $25,000. The Dianne Lemmons Endowment Fund celebrates and honors the life of Jim's beloved wife, Dianne. Future revenue generated from this fund will be devoted to programs for women with metastatic breast cancer.

Dianne explored many intimate places while on earth through her travels to destinations as distant as Nepal, Tibet and India, or as close as her mind through meditation, Watsu, Nia and Reiki. At the same time, Dianne remained firmly planted on earth, never missing a birthday or anniversary of family or friends, always with an eye on the next adventure, the next anniversary celebration with her husband, Jim, the next flower to plant, the next opportunity to dance. Diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer in 2001 at the age of 44, Dianne battled the physical disease with the most aggressive tools Western medicine could offer while also embracing every opportunity presented to achieve physical, emotional and spiritual recovery.

Dianne attended an Infinite Boundaries retreat for women with metastatic disease in March 2006, shortly before her death on May 1. According to Jim, the retreat was a source of great strength for Dianne. Her brief relationship with other women with metastatic disease brought a greater sense of peace to Dianne’s final weeks and helped her navigate them calmly and with a sense of dignity. She died peacefully in the home she and Jim filled with decades of memories, with her flowers in view and with Jim at her side.

Breast Cancer Recovery is forever grateful to Dianne and Jim for creating a legacy gift that will continue to nurture and inspire countless women with metastatic breast cancer.