PORTLAND'S QUILTED NORTHERN SOFT & STRONG® CHAMPION - RAYLENE DION

Raylene Dion is the 2011 Quilted Northern Soft & Strong® Champion for the Susan G. Komen® Race for the Cure event in Portland on Sunday, Sept. 18. Dion is Co-Founder of the Susan G. Komen Oregon Affiliate and is a 21-year survivor of breast cancer.

Born in Pocatello, Idaho, Dion and her family moved to the Oregon area when she was just a child. She is currently a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner for a local private practice.

In 1991 Dion became one of the founding members of the Susan G. Komen Oregon chapter. Today, thanks to the determination of Dion and her colleagues, the chapter has grown from 6,000 participants in the first race to more than 50,000 participants in two cities.

"It is my goal to provide hope and support to newly diagnosed individuals with a breast cancer. It is extremely frightening to be told, 'You have breast cancer,'" said Dion. "Talking to someone who has survived 21 years can be very calming to the women and their families."

Dion was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990 at the age of 35. The cancer was identified as Stage I and immediately Dion underwent two surgeries and six months of chemotherapy. Today she is in remission and dedicates her time to aid others who have also been affected by this disease.

In addition to her role with the Susan G. Komen Oregon chapter, she has volunteered on the local and national level for several cancer advocacy groups.

Raylene and her husband, Garry, have been married for 32 years and are the proud parents of son-Brandon, 28, and daughter -Michelle, 26. She and her husband currently reside in Portland.

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