NEW ORLEANS'S QUILTED NORTHERN SOFT & STRONG® CHAMPION - ALLENE THALLER

Allene Thaller is the 2011 Quilted Northern Soft & Strong® Champion for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® event in New Orleans on Saturday, Oct. 22. Thaller is on the board for the Susan G. Komen® New Orleans chapter and is a ten-year breast cancer survivor.

A New Orleans native, Thaller enjoys the spirit, community and culture of the Crescent City.

A typical modern woman, Thaller was juggling several agendas: personal, professional and family, and she forgot to focus on her own health by visiting her doctor regularly. In 2001, Thaller was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her daughter insisted on scheduling a mammogram appointment where Thaller learned she had a lump that had been growing for three years.

After visiting a specialist and surgical oncologist, she decided to move forward with surgery and radiation treatments. After four months of treatment, Thaller successfully conquered the debilitating disease.

Today, she has fully recovered and is determined to tell her story to encourage other women and men to test early and often. Thaller uses her own personal story as a testament to early detection and regular testing.

"I relied on my faith, family and friends. I really learned how important the people around me are - the people who matter most. Never take life and your loved ones for granted," said Thaller.

As a board member of the Susan G. Komen® New Orleans chapter, Thaller works closely with the national sponsors to spread awareness and encourage the community to participate.

"I want to remind women how important it is to schedule annual mammograms and self-check regularly," said Thaller. "It's imperative we take care of ourselves first so we can take care of our family and loved ones."

Thaller is a proud mother and grandmother, and currently resides in New Orleans, La., where she works as a paralegal.

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