Frank & Charmayne Dierker

A rural private home surrounded by some 400 acres of farmland seems the least likely place to find the National Headquarters for MSDBC (Mothers Supporting Daughters with Breast Cancer). However, that is where the thousands of packets of literature are assembled before they are mailed at the post office in Chestertown, Maryland, eleven miles away. All of this began in March 1995, nearly three years after Lillie Shockney was first diagnosed with breast cancer. Her mother was devastated so Lillie continued to search for an organization to help her mother emotionally. None was found then or later when Lillie lost her second breast in 1994. Because Lillie's mother continued to feel that there should be such an organization, Lillie announced that she and her mother would create one. With their three summers of "breast cancer experience" all of the resources they had found as well as all of the various ways they had learned to keep their attitude on a positive note would be the basis for such an organization to assist other mothers in this situation. In a few weeks they had prepared two booklets, one for the mother and another for the daughter. Soon after these publications were completed and several other writings were prepared, it became known that mothers everywhere might benefit from what this mother /daughter duo was ready to share. The organization can boast of having a board of directors with half of them being men. Four years later when the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association announced their second Ageless Heroes contest for seniors Charmayne was nominated for her work with MSDBC. Soon she was notified that she had been selected for the category Community Involvement, and was the winner for the State of Maryland. Shortly thereafter it became known that she and five (5) others in various categories had been selected from 6,500 nominations to be presented awards in May 1999. The Dierkers (Charmayne and Frank) were flown to Chicago for the special event. President George Bush accompanied by Mrs. Bush, presented the Ageless Hero awards to each of the six (6) national winners. The evening before the presentations, there was a special reception held by BC/BS with each of the honorees presenting a summary of their work. They were recognized and introduced to the group by the CEO Patrick Hays of BC/CS. A private reception was held the next morning with President and Mrs. Bush prior to the luncheon. Each honoree was filmed and honored with special words from President and Mrs. Bush. Three hundred people from various walks of life attended the luncheon. When they entered the dining room the banners that bedecked the walls were breathtaking. Each honoree's face was pictured on two vertical banners, each measuring some fifteen feet high in shades of blue that draped the walls of this atrium-style room with a clear dome ceiling. All of these proceedings were features on CNN, as well as TV Channels in Chicago and throughout the Mid-west. Mr. John Drury, well-known reporter of WLS-TV, welcomed everyone and Mr. Patrick G. Hays, President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association also gave remarks. The highlight of the event was the Keynote Presentation by President George Bush followed by the presentation of awards for the six categories: Love of Learning: Harriett W. Smith of Mississippi Bridging the Generations: Joseph R. Naughton, Jr. of California Vigor and Vitality: Arnold C. Bull of New Jersey Against the Odds: Lois Dupuis of Montana Creative Expressions: Evelyn Stone of Florida Community Involvement: Charmayne Dierker of Maryland A special thanks goes to Lillie Shockney for nominating her mother for this award.