2026 Blue KC Gamechanger Honoree Kim Jones – Month of August
Filling in the Gaps
Like a lot of women her age, Kim Jones was doing a self-examination in the shower in the summer of 2011 when she noticed a lump in her breast. Cancer runs in her family—all four grandparents died as a result of cancer—so she decided she would undergo a mammogram that October when her church sponsored an event. She was uninsured, so she needed to wait for that free event.
But when she went for the exam, the clinician said she couldn’t complete the exam because Jones had already discovered the lump, and the exam was focused on healthy tissue. Had she known that ahead of time, she could have saved significant time by getting it checked out sooner.
It wasn’t the only occasion she felt the normal protocols let her down. Instead of referring her somewhere to get checked out, the clinician let her walk out the door without any follow-up steps to take. It wasn’t until January that she finally had the exam, which revealed Stage-3 breast cancer.
She decided right then to put her frustrations to good use and founded Sisters Living Beyond the Ribbon. Actually, the first few times she spoke on behalf of her new initiative, she was known as “Kim Jones, breast cancer survivor.” A friend suggested the catchier name.
Sisters Living Beyond the Ribbon is an advocacy organization that exists to prevent cases like hers from falling through the cracks. She knows that it’s easy to assume that everyone knows what to do when getting the horrible news that you have cancer, but that’s simply not true.
“We focus on the mental aspect of the life changes that getting a cancer diagnosis throws you into, plus the financial disparity that happens when you receive a cancer diagnosis and are fighting for your life,” she said. “You’re trying to weave fighting for your life with everyday life because life keeps happening. It doesn’t stop just because you get the bad news.”
Because of her work, Jones is the August recipient of the Blue KC Gamechanger award. Founded in 2024 by Blue KC and the Kansas City Current, the Blue KC Gamechanger program recognizes an individual whose leadership inspires physical, mental, emotional and community wellness by creating healthier, more inclusive environments. This can be done through healthcare, education, sport or advocacy efforts. To nominate the next Blue KC Gamechanger, CLICK HERE.
Sisters Living Beyond the Ribbon is not just for the African American community, although Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stages of cancer. Part of that may be the lack of support for women in that community.
“The lack of knowledge, funding, support, and, more than anything, finances, are more of a challenge in the African American community,” she said. “A young Black woman may not get an early diagnosis because she can’t afford to take off work so she can get a mammogram. If she does take off work and finds out she does have cancer, she needs to follow up but she doesn’t necessarily have the time or resources to keep following up.”
Sisters Living Beyond the Ribbon sponsors a lot of events, including a 5K run/walk that will celebrate its 10thanniversary at the end of September. She credits Linda Watkins, the founding treasurer who recently lost a battle with breast cancer after it attacked her for a fourth time.
“We couldn’t have achieved all that we have without Linda’s efforts,” she said. “But we have to keep battling.
“Cancer is not going to be eradicated before I leave this earth, sadly enough. Whenever someone gets that diagnosis, they can reach out to a peer group that can support them. We want to fill in those gaps and help them connect the dots for their individual journey, because everybody’s fight is so different.”
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