Choosing to be Unconventional Leads to Change
Any disease dramatically affects the person receiving the diagnosis and everyone and everything attached to them. The stress or concern about what family and friends are feeling and experiencing while dealing with pain, doctors’ appointments, medications, tests, or therapy can become a weight challenging to bear. Disease exposes and reminds you of the fragility of life. Being a person afflicted with a chronic illness, I think more about the here and now and less about the life after me. There are times when I wonder how my choices could affect my family if this illness takes me out. However, I never wonder how my name will on.
Lavar Jacobs did not want to search for his mother’s name, Kim, whom he lost due to breast cancer in 2009, and an obituary was the only result. Not Just October is a nonprofit organization created by Jacobs to educate and support cancer patients, survivors, and those who support them. His most recent accomplishment is opening Ohio’s 1st Black-owned breast cancer center. We spoke with Jacobs about his mother and how she put her son in this position to change lives and create a legacy.
We know that opening this center was very personal for you. What made you take the step to make this happen for the City of Akron?
Because my mother passed away so early on in her life, at the age of 49, it was a very personal mission to make sure her legacy was solidified. I always said that I wanted more to my mother’s name than to look her up and only find an obituary. Now her name is synonymous with breast cancer awareness and aid of women battling the terrible disease that she passed away from. The city of Akron deserved this, and I had to do everything in my power to provide this for my community and the strong women fighting the fight every day.
You are also the founder behind, Not Just October. What are some of the resources provided through this organization?
Not Just October (NJO) has been providing services for women for seven years. NJO is dedicated to fostering a culture of encouragement, advocacy, and total support. This includes providing services that people may not even think are important but can make a world of difference for those fighting breast cancer. Seeing firsthand how my mother struggled to do everyday activities, my vision to change how our communities think and talk about breast cancer came to fruition through the development of NJO. Services such as lawn care, snow removal, home cleaning, supplying groceries, and paying rent/mortgages are just a few of our services through NJO.
You aim to change how the community talks and thinks about breast cancer; what message do you want the world to know about the importance of screenings for women? SELF-TESTS SAVE LIVES! Women have an exponentially higher survival rate when breast cancer is detected early. Women and men need to take the necessary steps to test themselves monthly and stay healthy. If you feel something, say something. We take pride in spreading awareness in unconventional ways. Our pink wrapped “Awareness Mobile” that I drive around the city and state has reminded women to go get their mammograms when they see the car; that solidifies my fight for awareness and lets me know what we’re doing is saving lives.
Since opening this facility, how has this journey been for you emotionally and spiritually?
It fills my heart with joy to know that I’m providing a safe space full of resources for women battling breast cancer in honor of my mother. I’m staying focused because I know that we aren’t done. I think I’m emotionally strong, but I have my moments sometimes! Tears of joy have been shed for sure, and I’m just excited about what’s on the horizon. My wife has been highly influential in keeping me in a healthy headspace. I credit my emotional and spiritual journey through all of this to her and God.
It’s beautiful to see a Black man standing behind something so delicate for women. What do you hope more men will gain knowledge from your story?
As men, we must be conscious of what women go through when they are fighting breast cancer and when they aren’t. We wouldn’t be here without women and their strength, so it’s important that we love and protect them in any way that we can. Everyone only gets one mom, so I make sure to be intentional about being there for every woman I cross paths with. I hope other men gain understanding, love, and want to protect.
Surely this is just the start of many great things for you. What else can we expect from you in 2021? Any upcoming events?
I am looking forward to being a beacon of hope and light in the community to serve in many ways. The resource center is the hub, but our mission is much greater. It’s my goal to expand the center to multiple locations and become the most sought-after and recognized breast cancer organization. In addition, I’m looking forward to coordinating our own breast cancer walk and flood the streets of Akron with pink to show everyone that breast cancer is an issue ALL YEAR, not just during October.
Lavar Jacob’s efforts are commendable. He has taken his grief and turned it into a place of comfort and hope for others in honor of his mother. To learn more about Lavar’s story and his mission, please visit notjustoctober.org.
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