Lola Brown

Lola Brown, a native of Denver, CO grew up in Columbia, SC. She attended Richland Northeast High School. While in school, she received honors to attend the South Carolina Governor’s School for academics and was named to the South Carolina All-State Band. You could also find Lola on the court scrambling for digs for the volleyball team or shooting hoops with her varsity basketball teammates.

She graduated from Richland Northeast High School with honors and received a music scholarship to attend the University of Georgia. While at UGA, she joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. where she participated in various community service activities. Lola was talented and musically gifted. She was an accomplished pianist and a faithful Christian. She  served as an active member of First Northeast Baptist Church in Columbia, SC for several years where she played the piano and directed choirs.

Lola, began her professional career as a financial specialist in the banking industry, was promoted to portfolio manager, and later branch manager. In 2003, at the age of 28 years old, Lola discovered a lump in her breast as she conducted a breast-self exam. Doctors diagnosed her with breast cancer. She was a newlywed to Gilbert Jamal Brown and a new mother to a toddler, Gilbert Jamal Brown II, affectionately known as Gil.

Despite surgeries and years of chemotherapy, Lola continued to fight. She worked throughout her treatment and emphasized the importance of a healthy diet and exercise. During her spare time she worked as an aerobics instructor. She exemplified the true meaning of strength and courage and inspired others to embrace fitness.

Because of Lola’s generous spirit, passion to help find a cure, and desire to promote awareness about breast cancer to young women, she put together a team of family and friends. Through the years those teams raised more than $10,000 for cancer research, for survivors, and for those she called victors. In Oct. 2013, at 38 years old,  Lola became one of the victors. 

The Lola Brown Foundation Gala

Lola Brown wanted to use her diagnosis as a testimony to help others affected by breast cancer. The Lola Brown Foundation Gala is the foundation’s signature fundraiser. The gala will feature keynote speakers affected by cancer and is an event where scholarships and awards will be rewarded. Ticket sales from the gala will help fund scholarships and awards.

Paint The Town Pink

Through years of remission, recurrences, aggressive chemotherapy, and surgeries, Lola courageously and gracefully battled breast cancer. Her message to women- “check your boobies.” Each year, she gathered a team of friends and family to participate in breast cancer awareness walks to raise money for breast cancer research. Lola also created the Paint the Town Pink weekend, which is a celebration of survivors and a remembrance of those who are no longer with us. Now, in her honor we continue the Paint the Town Pink weekend and raise money for The Lola Brown Foundation, her namesake, to help fund her vision.

The Lola Brown Breast Self-Check Day

At the age of 28, Lola Brown discovered a lump in her breast during a breast self-check while taking a shower. If she had not discovered the lump, she would not have received early treatment, which allowed her to live 10 more years after her diagnosis. Lola stressed the importance of early detection and breast self-exams and wanted to educate young women that they too could be diagnosed with breast cancer even under the age of 40. In honor of her push for awareness, The LBF is currently working with South Carolina lawmakers and school districts to educate high school seniors on the importance of breast self-exams. The goal is to have a certified health professional talk to students about breast self-exams and breast cancer. Those students can only participate in the 30 to 45 minute session if they have signed parental/guardian consent forms. The day will be held in October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and will be known as The Lola Brown Breast Self-Check Day.