Sisters share survivorship, serve as ambassadors for Queen City Race for Life
Clementine and Hazel Temple have always shared a close bond as sisters. They grew up in a big family, worked in retail, and each raised three children – a son and two daughters.
The two share something even more powerful: they are both breast cancer survivors.
Hazel A. Temple, 75, and her sister, Clementine, 73, will serve as ambassadors for Meridian Community College’s Queen City Race for Life and Street Strut. The event, hosted by MCC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, will take place Saturday, Oct. 18, beginning at 8 a.m. on the MCC track.
The annual walk and run honors breast cancer survivors, raises awareness about the disease, and supports the Baptist Anderson Cancer Patient Benevolence Fund.
For the Temple sisters, the cause is deeply personal. Hazel was the first to receive a diagnosis after a regular mammogram when she was 57. Just as she began treatment, Clementine received her own diagnosis.
“The same day she was having surgery, I got diagnosed,” Clementine recalled. “She had it first, but we were right behind each other.”
Hazel went through eight rounds of chemotherapy and leaned on her faith, her family, and her coworkers for strength. “What surprised me most was the support,” she said. “Even pilots at the base where I worked took up a donation for me. My faith became stronger through it all.”
Clementine faced breast cancer twice, most recently in January. She underwent a mastectomy and continues to receive treatment while also living with lupus and thyroid issues. Still, she focuses on the purpose behind her struggles.
“My pain is for a purpose,” Clementine said. “I trust God in everything I go through, and I believe He’s using my story to encourage others.”
Both sisters have grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and they encourage their daughters to be proactive with screenings because of the family’s history of breast cancer. Their aunt, Wilma, died of the disease at just 29, and other relatives have also been affected.
Hazel, whose cancer has been in remission for 18 years, offers clear advice: “Especially if you have family members with cancer, get checked earlier. You have to stay strong, have faith, and believe in yourself.”
The sisters say they are proud to represent the Queen City Race for Life, an event Hazel has attended for years.
“This has and will continue to be a powerful reminder of our dedication to fighting breast cancer and supporting those who have been affected by the disease,” said Phyllis Holladay, longtime event organizer and PTK advisor.
For Clementine and Hazel, the walk is more than an event. It’s a celebration of survival, faith, and family – and a message of hope for others facing the same battle.
To learn more, visit meridiancc.edu/streetstrut.