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In recognition of Breast Cancer Month in October and in honor of breast cancer survivors, the culminating event of the 2011 U.S. Masters Synchronized Swimming Championships will be a Guinness World Record™ attempt at the largest synchronized swimming float formation: “The World’s Largest Human Floating Pink Ribbon.” The event is a fundraiser to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and raise breast cancer awareness. 

More than 250 male and female athletes and breast cancer survivors will join together to be a part of this magical, record-breaking event to recognize and support all mothers, sisters, daughters and friends affected by this terrible disease.

Our Running Ribbon float will feature over 250 swimmers in matching solid black one-piece swimsuits in either a back layout position (floating on the back) or tub position (floating on the back with knees tucked into the chest).  The body of the Running Ribbon will be 4-6 swimmers wide while the head of the ribbon will be made of up of and honor breast cancer survivors.  Survivors committed to participating in the float include:

o   Karen Josephsen, 2-time Olympic Gold & Silver Medalist in Synchronized Swimming
o   Dawn Bean, International Judge, International Swimming Hall of Fame, Competition Dir. 1984 Olympics
o   Penny De Mules, 20-time National Masters Champion, U.S. National Judge
o   Sonia Susac, 3-time National Champion, FINA World Bronze Medalist, 2010 Susan G. Komen Promise of One Award Winner, 2-time Top Individual Fundraiser for   Komen Race for the Cure
o   Tina Macuha, local TV-personality on GoodDay Sacramento since 1995
o   Donna Sanderson, current Sacramento Valley Affiliate Executive Director


Want to join us in setting the World Record? Sign up here!

Sonia Susac
Our beloved US Masters Championships 2011 Meet Manager and “Largest Human Floating Pink Ribbon" Organizer
Diagnosed in 2005; 38yrs old

In December 2004, Sonia’s dear friend Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer. As a gesture of encouragement, Sonia organized dinner deliveries and recruited friends to form a race team for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Sonia called the team “The RAC-PAC” which stands Ready, Aim, Cure…Pledge, Action, and Commitment. As a return of friendship, Lisa insisted Sonia get a mammogram. Three months later, after finally taking her friends advice, Sonia’s mammogram came back positive for breast cancer. No lump…just luck; Sonia found it in its earliest stage, Stage 0 (DCIS). The cancer was still encapsulated in the milk duct system but was wide-spread. After two surgeries, it was determined that it was in 3 different locations, aggressive, and growing from the progesterone and estrogen in her body. Sonia, then 38 with two small children, entered HER race of a life time in her passion for beating the disease. Following a bi-lateral mastectomy and 3 years of reconstruction surgeries, Sonia is committed to helping others, especially focused on helping those diagnosed in their 20’s and 30’s.  She is still the team captain for the RAC-PAC, which averages 350 team members a year and is the largest team in Sacramento Komen Race history. Since 2005, the RAC-PAC has raised $206,000 to help Susan G. Komen for a Cure find an end to breast cancer.

There isn’t anyone Sonia won’t talk to about breast cancer – about early detection, mentoring and supporting those going in treatment, about going to fundraising events, about volunteering and sponsoring and giving.  As the organizer of a young survivors’ group, she freely hands out her phone number to anyone who might want to talk. Each time she hears about a new diagnosis, Sonia’s resolve to win the war on breast cancer is even stronger. 

“I believe in my heart that God spared me a later-stage diagnosis and more difficult treatment to give me the compassion and passion to make a difference.  I know how lucky I am.  I want to share my appreciation for LIFE and help find a cure so that no other mother, daughter, sister or friend will have to face the fears of mortality before their time.” - Sonia

Sonia is the organizer of a Guinness World Records attempt at the “Largest Human Floating Pink Ribbon” float formation.

“I’m so lucky to be able to combine my passion for breast cancer awareness and fundraising with my love for synchronized swimming and my life-time dream of setting a Guinness World Record since I was 7 yrs. old! This will be a dream come true.”   - Sonia

Meekyung "Mee"

Diagnosed 2010. Mother of three. 
Mee was only 36 with three children; Noelle was 2 years old, Eunie was 7 and Nathan was 11 when she heard the words “you have breast cancer.”  Mee had to find the innerstrength to persevere and continue to be a mom to her three children through an aggressive, long and difficult treatment that spanned over 5 years: mastectomy, removal of 11 lymph nodes, chemotherapy, hysterectomy and then menopause at age 36.

Mee is valuable member of our Sac Synchro family - she's an integral member of our parent board and a mom of two outstanding swimmers, Noelle and Eunie.  Mee's always the first to selflessly lend a hand to help the team!

“I just celebrated my 5th year anniversary at the end of 2010.  : )  I am reminded daily how blessed I am....  This last year was the first year that I did not have to have any other procedures done.  My little Noelle didn't have to ask me how many nights will I be spending at the hospital.”

“It's funny... I think that we all know that our time here is finite, but we live as if we are going to live forever.  I didn't think I did, but when I was faced with the possibility of death, I was able to reexamine my life.  When I saw tears streaming down from my oldest as he asked me if I was going to die, at the time 11 years old, it broke my heart into pieces.  Cancer changed my life.  I don't sweat the little stuff.  I now try to do what is important, not so much what I think is pressing.  : )  I count my blessings daily, often times many times throughout the day!” – Mee

Tina Machua

Working in radio was Tina Macuha’s dream. In high school, Tina pretended to be on the radio with her homemade station she called K-Mac. Friends and relatives didn’t take her seriously, which led Tina to believe that a job on the air would be an impossible feat. Her outlook on life changed in 1983 when her mother died from breast cancer. Her mother always encouraged her to follow her dreams so Tina changed her major for the last time and did just that.

A Sacramento native, Tina graduated with a double major in Communications and Geography from CSU, Sacramento. After graduating, she started working in radio and was on the morning show of Sacramento’s FM 102 in the early 1990′s. Tina spent a total 12 years in radio and transitioned to her television home on Good Day Sacramento when it first aired in August 1995. She can be seen every morning reporting the Sacramento, Central Valley and Bay Area commute. Tina shares her Thought of the Day by placing it next to her on the set. She awards a free lunch called Grub Run to a lucky office usually once per week. Tina also comes up with Question of the Day in order to get to know her co-workers better and enjoys stumping their music knowledge during Teen’s Tune.

In March 2000, she received the Women of Color Day 2000 Award for Caring and Responsive Journalism and as An Outstanding Woman of Color. Tina served as the on-court emcee for the Sacramento Monarchs WNBA team during the 1999, 2000 and 2001 seasons. She is a frequent speaker at local events and enjoys speaking at schools to encourage youth to follow their dreams.

In April 2009, Tina shared her breast cancer story on the show.  As a survivor, she continues to share her journey at many breast cancer events and fundraisers.  Tina loves “lunching” and checking out new restaurants, listening to music, baking sweet treats, and most of all, spending time with her daughter Carina and her family.

Penny DeMeules

Penny has a lifelong love for the sport of Synchronized Swimming. A member of the Unsyncables of La Mirada, Penny has also been a coach, judge, and committee chair. She began swimming masters in 1991 and has participated in 6 Masters World Championships, earning 14 medal places from 1992-2010(8 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze). In U.S. Masters Nationals, she has won 36 medal places (22 gold, 9 silver and 5 bronze). She was awarded the Mae McEwan (outstanding US Masters swimmer) in 2002.

Penny’s interest and dedication to her sport begin at age 14 when she become one of the original members of the Dayton Aquanymphs winning team medals in Junior and Senior Nationals. She continued swimming in college and was one of the  member of the Ohio State Synchro team (then called SWAN CLUB).  The highlight of her early swimming years was being a member of one of Norma Olson's exhibition teams that performed at he Olympic Gala in Rome in 1960.

After retiring from swimming herself, Penny continued in the sport helping coach first her youth club in Dayton and after moving to California, she helped coach the San Jose Rhythmettes and then the San Francisco Merionettes. After marrying and moving to Southern California, she helped local clubs and founded her own club, Beverly Hills Synchro. However, it disbanded when the family moved England for 2 years. Returning, she taught a synchro unit for a local  high school and continues to help local clubs when asked.

Penny began judging local competitions in the Pacific Association and earned a National Judges rating in the early 70s.  She was an active US Judge until 2 years ago. While in England, she served synchro as a FINA rated international judge. In addition to judging, Penny has been active on synchro committees, chairing the Education Committee in the late 80s and as Education Chair for her association. She has chaired committees for hosting national and international events in Southern California, US Junior, Senior and Age group nationals, 3 American Cups and the 1984 Olympic Games.

Of Masters, she enjoys the friendships made with various team members and as she was once quoted, “it is more fun to swim than coach or judge.”

Donna Sanderson

Donna Sanderson is the Executive Director of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. She began volunteering for the Sacramento Affiliate in 1997, just two months before she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In 1997, Sanderson was elected president of the board and in 2000 was hired as the affiliate's first paid staff. As a breast cancer survivor and an educational psychologist, Sanderson is passionate about building on and sharing an appreciation and respect for other cultures. She is most proud of the relationships she has developed in the community, bringing a wide range of partners together to help find a cure for breast cancer and support those who have already been diagnosed. Sanderson says, "I never imagined I would be doing what I am doing today and feel so privileged to have an opportunity like this to give back to the community. Having a passion for the cause and the Komen Foundation makes all the difference in the world. It provides the fuel for the courage it takes for me to ask people to give to the cause".

Under Sanderson's leadership, the affiliate has raised more than $8 million in eight years. When she is not occupied with Komen activities she likes to read, golf, mountain bike, kayak and play poker, socially. She has a doctorate in Educational psychology from the University of San Francisco.

Dawn Bean
Cancer for me has been just something to overcome and get on with life. No one knows how long we have, so my advice is ….get the best medical attention you can, right away, and then follow the recommendations … surgery, chemo, radiation, whatever, just do it and do it ASAP. Don’t delay, it’s your life.

In 1975, I was shocked to discover a hard lump in my neck … I was 48. Within 2 weeks I was being operated on for metastatic thyroid cancer, then treated with radiation therapy afterward …  Six weeks later, I was judging at the Pan American Games in Mexico City.

Eight years later, I found a hard lump in my breast …breast cancer….8 days after the  mastectomy, I was flying with my team (Meraquas) to the Hans Christian Andersen Cup in Denmark. Although I had told my doctor I was going, he really didn’t believe I would do it. He was dumbfounded when I asked how to care for the wound, saying “tell me what to look out for …they have doctors in Denmark.”

Since those episodes, I’ve had 2 more cancers …. a recurrence of the Thyroid cancer after 23 years followed with a mega radiation dose. Last year, surgery for a squamous cell skin cancer. In between, I’ve had 3 hip replacements, cataract surgery on both eyes, then Open Heart Surgery and Aortic Valve replacement in 2007. Otherwise, my doctor says I’m “the healthiest person, with problems, he knows.”

Live your life, always think positively, just know that everything will be all right… and enjoy every minute. Keep swimming and making plans for the future, then do them!

Edna Campbell

Edna Campbell is a retired women's basketball player who played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The 5'8" guard was a star player for the Sacramento Monarchs and has also played for three other teams, but is best known for continuing to play despite suffering breast cancer.

Campbell's college career began at the University of Maryland, College Park, but achieved her most notable success at the University of Texas' women's team, known as the Lady Longhorns, where she was named the Southwest Conference's Newcomer of the Year in 1990. She graduated in 1991 after the Lady Longhorns compiled a 48-14 won/loss record while she was there.

Edna played for the Colorado Xplosion in the American Basketball League (ABL). She was the 10th overall draft pick, selected by the Phoenix Mercury during the 1999 WNBA Draft. She was left unprotected in the expansion draft the following year, and was chosen by the Seattle Storm. She became the new franchise's go-to option, but the team finished with a cellar-dwelling 6-26 record.

The next year, Campbell was traded to the Sacramento Monarchs. During the second of her four seasons in Sacramento, Campbell was diagnosed with breast cancer. "I was shocked and numb, to say the least," Edna has said. "This was a situation that had me stomped." Yet, her faith, career and experiences gave her a beautiful life to fight for.

Amazingly, she continued to live a normal life throughout her treatment. She played basketball when she could, and rested when she needed it. She received treatment and was welcomed back before the fans of her two most recent teams in the Monarchs' final game against Seattle during the 2002 season.

Campbell continued to play in spite of the cancer, becoming an inspiring symbol to many survivors. She became the WNBA's national spokesman in its anti-cancer efforts with the Susan G. Komen Foundation, receiving the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award for 2003. After playing as a free agent for the San Antonio Silver Stars in 2005, she announced her retirement from the WNBA on February 28, 2006.

During the 2006 WNBA season, its ninth, fans nominated Campbell's victory over breast cancer as "most inspirational and one of the top four WNBA Decade Anniversary moments". Since then, Edna has completed her nursing degree and now continues to inspire women with the story of her life during and after breast cancer.

Karen Josephson

A gold-medal Olympian and four-time All-American, Karen Josephson and her twin sister Sarah won gold medals for their duet in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and silver medals in duet at the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics.  Just before the 1992 Olympics, the Josephson duet earned the highest overall total score for a duet in international synchronized swimming history at the World Championships in Perth, Australia with 199.762 points.

In addition to her illustrious Olympic career, Karen helped guide Ohio State Synchronized Swimming to three National Championships.  She was the 1985 USSSI Collegiate Athlete of the Year and a four-time OSU Scholar Athlete.

In all, Karen spent 22 years in synchronized swimming and represented the United States as a National Team member for 12 years.

It was just 5 years ago that Karen was diagnosed with breast cancer. With her sister and best supporter by her side she knew she was inspired to stand strong against the challenges of treatment she was faced with.

“When the going got tough, I really had to draw upon many of the same competitive instincts I did when I was swimming. I really had to put my head down and stay positive. I had to fight hard. I will never forget what the experience has taught me. Life is precious, we must all treasure and protect it.”

The U.S. Masters Synchronized Swimming Championships is a proud supporter of
The Sacramento Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®