ATLANTA'S QUILTED NORTHERN SOFT & STRONG® CHAMPION - KAREN BRAGMAN

Karen Bragman is the 2011 Quilted Northern Soft & Strong® Champion for the Komen Race for the Cure event in Atlanta on May 7. Bragman is the president of the Komen Atlanta Board of Directors and is a 14-year survivor of breast cancer.

Born in Detroit, Mich., Bragman spent much of her youth in the Midwest, but has called Atlanta home for the past 30 years. She is currently a partner in Arnall Golden Gregory's Litigation Practice Group and is a member of the Firm's Complex Insurance Services and Business Litigation teams.

Bragman was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 at the young age of 42. Over an eight month period she underwent a several surgeries and numerous rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. Today, Karen has been in remission for 14 years. She now dedicates her time to raise funds for the Susan G. Komen foundation, bringing the organization to the forefront in the Atlanta community and ultimately helping others who have also been affected by the disease.

"I feel like Komen Atlanta is one of the most spectacular 'on the ground' organizations that helps first hand with early diagnosis and detection," she said.

Bragman became a volunteer for Komen Atlanta nearly six years ago.

"'I feel like I can really make a difference because what we do at Komen impacts peoples' lives in a tangible way. I believe we can achieve the mission of Komen for ourselves and our children."

Bragman's goal is to educate women and men that early detection is key and that with so many resources available there is always hope.

"'One of the most important things I want people to understand is that early detection is critical. For this reason, of the local grants Komen Atlanta distributed in 2010, 97% of them went towards hands on programs for early detection,' she said. "With the quality of care that hospitals provide today and innovative technologies, survival rates are so much higher. Because of my personal experience with breast cancer, I want to help educate other about early detection."

Bragman truly exemplifies what it means to be a Quilted Northern Soft and Strong® Champion, demonstrating that through her actions on a daily basis.

Karen and her husband, Alan, have been married for 34 years and are the proud parents of sons, Adam, 26, and David, 23. She and her husband currently reside in Atlanta.

Georgia-Pacific is proud to call Karen Bragman a Quilted Northern Soft & Strong® Champion.