We recently connected with Gayela Bynum and have shared our conversation below.
Gayela, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
My mother brought me up to be self-sufficient, independent, industrious and committed to give back to the community! My father passed away from a major heart attack 4 months before I was born. Mother was a teacher prior to marrying my father, after he passed away, she enrolled in the University of Oklahoma to pursue her Masters Degree in education. After earning her degree, she began teaching in a financially challenged school in Oklahoma City where she felt she could make the biggest impact on the students she taught. In addition to teaching basic subjects, she taught social skills and manners. At the beginning of each school year, she had a requirement to visit the homes of her students, to meet the parents, most of whom lived on the river in marginal circumstances – some without electricity, running water and floors. Lessons learned from the stories she told was the importance of giving back.
In 2009, my daughter-in-law, Michelle, diagnosed with advanced Stage 3 Breast Cancer, was named spokesperson for Komen Breast Cancer in Austin Texas, because of the $125,000 she raised for the organization. That year, Michelle visited Washington DC where multiple fundraisers were organized to increase her donation for “Race for the Cure” in Austin. Michelle’s visit impacted all who met her and resulted in the organization of We Will Survive Cancer, which today is sixteen years old. In those sixteen years, WWSC has focused on serving the needs of financially challenged cancer patients and their families by providing supplies, gift bags, transportation to and from treatment. At Christmas, WWSC gifts families, delivers toys to children in hospitals suffering from cancer. During the Covid pandemic of. 2020, WWSC provided food baskets to families and helped in establishing a food pantry at Howard University Cancer Center in Washington DC. During the year, WWSC organizes special events for families and their children, such as tickets to baseball, basketball and other sports activities; provides special events for mother’s at Mother’s Day; visits from the Easter Bunny who delivers Easter Baskets to the children.
As a young child, I always wondered why my mother who achieved her Master’s Degree in 1950, chose to teach in a school with financially challenged families when she could have taught in any University or institute of higher learning. Her belief was giving to children who lacked encouragement or financial or other resources from their families, was important to their growth and socialization. Today, I find myself similarly focused, supporting financially challenged cancer patients and their families. As a child I was given everything I needed having many experiences, travel, lessons in music, dance, etc.; to have a complete and satisfied life, I was encouraged to give back my time, or money to those less fortunate than me.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am, Founder and Chair of We Will Survive Cancer (WWSC), and a longtime resident of the DC Metro area serving a lengthy career in the Federal Government. In between stints with the government, I took a leave of absence to arrange fundraising events on Capitol Hill. Around 1990, I founded a boutique handbag and accessories business that focused on sales in the early years of the Internet. I’ve served on the boards of the National Press Club, Summer Opera Theater, Opera Camerata and as previously mentioned, currently serve as Chair of We Will Survive Cancer.
In 2009, a group of friends and I founded We Will Survive Cancer, www.wewillsurvivecancer.org, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization; we were inspired by the warrior spirit of my daughter-in-law, Michelle Bynum. Michelle was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and passed away in 2011.
The mission of WWSC is to support cancer patients and their families, who lack financial resources and are in need of everyday services. In its sixteen years, WWSC has provided rental and utility assistance, baskets of food, arranged special events for families; provided gifts and necessities for families in need at Christmas (“Making Spirits Bright),” and other holidays. Additionally, WWSC provides supplies, wigs, and make-overs at Howard University Cancer Center during mammography days. Simply, WWSC offers any opportunity to enrich and offer hope to patients and their families. During the COVID 19 pandemic in 2020, WWSC, partnered with Howard to establish a food pantry for patients in chemo allowing them to grocery shop in a sterilized environment.
In 2015, I authored Don’t Waste My Cancer, Vol I. Vol II published in 2023. Both books feature a compilation of stories of patients who have gone beyond their diagnosis to give back to the community
In 2020, Gayela, joined Voices Against Trafficking as a Charter Member, (https://voicesagainsttrafficking.com/charter-members/). Gayela’s passion for the safety of children in the United States and across the world has been ongoing throughout her life.
In the summer of 2024, Gayela and We Will Survive Cancer was honored for 15 years of service to the community by the Tyson’s Chamber of Commerce. In 2023, Gayela was honored with the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her thousands of hours of volunteer service. Other awards include the Jack E. White, MD Founder’s Award from Howard University Cancer Center honoring the Years of service and volunteerism to cancer patients at Howard. In 2016, Gayela was honored as “Woman of the Year,” by CopaStyle Magazine. In 2025, Gayela and friends will be visiting Thailand to “Save the Elephants,” in peril who are in need of food, medicine and care. Two elephants perished in early October 2024 from flooding engulfing the camp in which they live.
I was born in Sulphur, Oklahoma and was classically trained in piano, violin, voice, and dance and majored in art and art history graduating with a degree in art from the University of Arkansas. My pastimes include hiking the nearby trails and mountains, reading and sewing, as well as designing and painting in my spare time. I am a member of Alpha Phi Fraternity and a 31-year member of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution. I am a longtime resident of Alexandria, Virginia. My oldest son, Blaine, resides in California; my youngest son, Brad his wife Christie, and her very talented grandson, Reid Tull Bynum, their three dogs Griffin, Oliver and Bruno live on a 20-acre ranch in Liberty Hill, Texas.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
In 1979, I left an abusive husband and marriage in Los Altos California, drove 3000 miles with my clothes, in a small car, that was so packed I could not see the mirror on the passenger side of the car. I cried and prayed the entire 3000 miles, that:
1. I would not be stopped by the highway patrol for not being able to see the rear mirror on the passenger side
2. that I would survive the chance I was taking to drive across country by myself
3. that I would survive not living in the luxury I was leaving, to move to Washington DC, only knowing two people
4. that I left a husband, I loved but could no longer live with, and two young sons who joined me several months later
I was truly terrified. I made it. I made friends, I worked at the pentagon 5 days a week, secured a job on the weekends taking reservations at the Watergate Hotel and enrolled in Real Estate class 3 nights a week and passed the exam for my license on the first try, and I made a social life for myself. Here I am 45 years later totally engaged and thoroughly enjoying my life.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I had to learn that I could not trust everyone I thought was my friend. I was sheltered as a child, my mother brought me up to be a princess – she just forgot to show me my kingdom! She always said I was sheltered but I didn’t understand what she meant for years and years. After my father died, my mother never remarried – she said she didn’t want someone over me who would try to control my life. I grew up free and independent. I had never seen a man and woman living together, who argued, fought, tried to belittle with words or deeds, so when I experienced it, I was devastated and had no idea how to handle the situations. I had no tools or experiences to draw on. It took me years of counseling, self-help seminars, lectures, books to learn and develop the skills needed to deal with difficult people. My advice to anyone in a similar situation is to leave before you lose yourself and ultimately find it is too late.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wewillsurvivecancer.org
- Instagram: gayela
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gayela/
- Linkedin: Gayela Bynum
- Twitter: @GayelaB
