Local Cancer Survivor Hosts Third Annual Charity Benefit and Golf Tournament

They say the friends you make in high school can become lifelong friends, and Carrollwood resident and Chamberlain High grad Darby Steadman would know. 

Thanks to social media sites, she stayed in contact with some of her old high school pals, who decided that they wanted to support her and her foundation, Driving Miss Darby, which she founded in 2008. 

The former television executive and mother to 11-year-old Liam and 8-year-old Audrey, was diagnosed with the most common type of highly treatable, non-invasive breast cancer - DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma in Situ, or Intraductal Carcinoma) - in 2004.  At just 34, Steadman underwent surgery and treatment. She was informed that she was cancer-free.   

Steadman’s mother had breast cancer in 1994 and underwent a (singular) mastectomy and has dodged any recurrences. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for her daughter.  While living in Maryland in 2007, Steadman found a pea-sized lump on her left breast.  Her cancer returned in her lymph nodes as a Stage IV Metastasis, spreading to under her left arm and into her neck bones and as a result, she would undergo a bilateral mastectomy.

Led by Dr. Leisha Emens, Steadman participated into a breast cancer vaccine trial several years ago at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center located in Baltimore.    

“We (all the trial participants) were all at Stage IV by that point," Steadman said. "It was our last hope. People were in survival mode, desperate to regain their health."

Patch spoke to this brave cancer survivor, whose 501(c)(3) organization provides monetary support to breast cancer patients participating in clinical trials.

Patch:  What or who inspired you to start Driving Miss Darby? 

Steadman:  During my participation in the clinical trial, I fortunately lived within driving distance to the hospital, but many women were traveling to the facility from around the country.  I saw many of these women several times a week and we formed a bond over time.  I learned that many of them had maxed out their credit card bills to pay for their airline tickets, meals and car rentals. Others commuted, five, six, seven hours each way and would head back the same say so they wouldn’t miss more than a day of work. 

Patch:  Your commute may have been easy, but your situation certainly wasn’t.  Who helped you during that rough time? 

Steadman:  I had – and have – a network of dependable, loving friends, family and neighbors who would help transport me and my children to appointments, to school and play dates, to run errands.  It was such a relief knowing that I could count on them when I needed their support the most.  Hence, the name of the organization.

Patch:  So, you are definitely a supporter of clinical trials?

Steadman:  My goal is to not only support patients who have also chosen experimental treatment for their disease, but to bring awareness to these trials and make them accessible to anyone who wants to participate, regardless of their financial situation. People need to be their own patient advocate. 

Patch:  How are you feeling today?   

Steadman:  I will never be cancer-free.  I’ve been through just under 10 surgeries in my life and I still receive infusions, scans and tests at Moffitt Cancer Center and see doctors regularly.  I have participated in several other clinical trials since Dr. Emens’ trial, though on a much smaller scale (i.e. donating a few vials of blood).  I am considering another one now here in Tampa and am weighing the pros and cons. 

Patch:  What are the foundation’s main principles? 

Steadman:  Driving Miss Darby focuses its effort in three primary areas:  Awareness – Educating the public on clinical trials and their contributions to medical treatment; Accrual – Supporting the recruitment and retention of patients in clinical trial research for breast cancer; and Assistance – Providing financial support and outreach to patients participating in clinical trials for breast cancer.

Patch:  How did the idea of your fundraiser come about?

Steadman: Doug and Joe, my high school friends from my days at Chamberlain High, approached me about helping out the foundation.  It was like that old game of telephone, but the modern version using Facebook. They would post information and tell their Facebook friends, and the word just continued to spread. 

Patch: For those who tend to make last-minute plans, is it too late to attend either event? 

Steadman:  Absolutely not – we welcome walk-ups to both events.  Even if guests haven’t pre-registered, we invite them to stop join us Saturday at 7pm for the benefit dinner which goes until midnight.  There will be a live auction, silent auction, and games on the golf course.  Luke Entertainment will be deejaying and our celebrity emcee is Denis Phillips, Chief Meteorologist on ABC Action News.  We'll all meet up again on Sunday for the golf tournament. 

Patch: What kinds of auction items do you plan on having?

Steadman:  We have been blessed by the generosity of so many donors and sponsors.  Some of the great items up for auction include pilates sessions, vacations and getaways, opening night tickets to ‘Disney on Ice’ in May at the St. Pete Times Forum and jewelry. Auction items are listed at https://dmdf.ejoinme.org/?tabid=272973.

Patch:  What is the one message you want to convey to women out there?

Steadman:  Know your own body.  As women, we spend so much time focusing on other people – our significant other, our children, our parents, our friends – but we need to take time to pay attention to our own needs.  Be responsible and respectful of yourself and your health.

Registration for the Third Annual Driving Miss Darby Golf Tournament and Benefit is open.  The weekend will begin with a Benefit Dinner & Auction on Saturday, March 19 (7pm) and continues on Sunday, March 20 with a Golf Tournament (1pm). 

Both events will be held at the Emerald Greens Golf & Country Club located in Carrollwood Village.  For more information, log onto the Driving Miss Darby website, or contact Chris Wandembergh by phone (813-493-0038) or email, at chris@drivingmissdarby.com.