"The breast cancer statistics are alarming, but it is even more alarming for the Black and Latina women," explains Llewellyn. "This is my community, and I need to be instrumental in helping my community survive."

According to the American Cancer Society, for Black and Latina women breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis of all cancers and more often diagnosed in later stages, resulting in limited treatment and care. As a result, survival rate is considerably less than their white counterparts.

Llewellyn goes on to explain that she feels Black and Latina women understand that knowledge is power, but are just unsure or not utilizing the power of knowing when it comes to breast cancer.

"My personal mission is to raise awareness. Awareness in the sense of becoming familiar with our bodies, getting regular check-ups, and following-up after you have your check-ups. This is all to detect cancer in the early stages to improve survival rates among this population."

"I cannot help but think about a Latina friend, who recently had an emergency mastectomy as a result of her breast cancer being diagnosed at a much, much later stage. Her experience cannot help but move you to action when it hits that close to home."

Not to be fooled, Llewellyn also wants this population to know that just because she is a world-class athlete, she is very aware of her risks and often times athletes are the worse to care for their breasts.

"You know, being a world class athlete doesn't matter because breast cancer doesn't discriminate. Often times, we as athletes think because we are on a physical training schedule and watch our diets we do not need to worry about our breast. It's just not true."

Llewellyn, of Jamaican and Mexican American descent, is the first woman of color in the world to win a professional motorsports event. Winning at the NHRA POWERade Dallas 2007, she earned an appearance in the inaugural Countdown to 4 and Countdown to 1, giving her a finish in the POWERade top five in standings where she recorded her post-career-best time and speed.

"I do monitor my diet and keep a healthy weight, and I also couple this with a yearly check-up, that includes a clinical breast exam. Can I do better with my own self-exams? Yes! It is my goal, which had become a part of my weekly beauty routine, to do my self breast exams. I am more familiar with my breast than I have ever been. It's as simple as that," said a reflective Llewellyn.

She goes on to explain joining in the fight against breast cancer starts with individuals making simple preventative life style changes, coupled with mammograms and breast self exams and clinical breast examinations. Llewellyn advocates prevention suggestions recommended by the American Cancer Society which includes watching weight, stop smoking, and limiting alcohol intake. By doing these simple things, Black and Latina women will improve their chances of not being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Over her reign as celebrity spokesperson for Divas For A Cure, she will conduct monthly chats via the organization's online community, Real Divas Ride (http://realdivasride.ning.com), and ride motorcycles across country to raise awareness and funds to fight for a cure in between her NHRA competitions. But, first she will start out by challenging all Black and Latina women to get the individual knowledge to ward against breast cancer.

"I'm dedicated. As a Black Latina, I want to ensure, we won't be a statistic; we will be survivors!"

About Peggy Llewellyn
Professional motorcyclist Peggy Llewellyn, of Jamaican and Mexican American descent, is the first woman of color in the world to win a professional motorsports event. Winning at the NHRA POWERade Dallas 2007, she earned an appearance in the inaugural Countdown to 4 and Countdown to 1, giving her a finish in the POWERade top five in standings where she recorded her post-career-best time and speed.

The three year professional motorcyclist ran an abbreviated season in 2008 where she advanced to the semifinals in Denver, finishing the season qualifying five of six races. Llewellyn looks to return to the NHRA circuit for the remainder of the 2009 NHRA season.

Named 2009 Female Athlete of the Year by The Elements of a Champion Foundation for displaying extraordinary character on and off the racetrack, Llewellyn is dedicated to her community through actively being involved with Women's Sports Foundation's Go Girl Go! and independently promoting the sport of motorcycle racing, physical fitness education, and following dreams to young girls. She also serves as the celebrity spokesperson for Divas For A Cure, a unique national service-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of Black and Latina women, who ride motorcycles across country to increase awareness and raise funds to support a cure for breast cancer throughout the year and participate in their signature fundraiser, Divas For A Cure Breast Cancer Motorcycle Run.

For more information, please visit http://www.peggyllewellyn.com.

About Divas For A Cure
Divas For A Cure (DFAC) is a unique national service-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of Black and Latina women, who ride motorcycles across country to increase awareness and raise funds to support a cure for breast cancer throughout the year and participate in their signature fundraiser, Divas For A Cure Breast Cancer Motorcycle Run. Based in California, the four-year organization, supported by Harley-Davidson Motor Company, clocked over 22,000 miles across the United States for the cause and donated over $110,000 to MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas, where DFAC has a dedicated treatment room.

In past years, Divas For A Cure has enjoyed the support of such celebrities as Award-winning, Bestselling African American Authors Nina Foxx and Eric Jerome Dickey, International Male Supermodel and Actor Tyson Beckford, Comedian and Actor Joe Torry, and Hollywood Stunt Man and former Dancer Lionel Douglass. For 2009-20010 Peggy Llewellyn, NHRA Pro Stock Motorcyclist and first woman of color in the world to win a professional motorsports event, will serve as its national celebrity spokesperson.

For more information, visit http://www.divasforacure.org.

Courtesy of Tonita Perry