Educator Highlight: Gem Bonnett, Barbados

“I want people to be educated so they get diagnosed earlier and don't have to go through what I went through then and now.” 

Gem Bonnett from Barbados found the Know Your Lemons Foundation about a year after she was diagnosed when she was looking for images on Google to share for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She was looking for an image or set of images that caught the eye and had enough info to actually share something meaningful. After searching for a while she found a medical clinic that had shared the 12 symptoms of breast cancer carton of lemons.

“It shared information that I didn't know before and it seemed perfect to use.”

Shortly after sharing she was invited to become an educator. This is what she had to say about sharing the material as an educator,

“the infographics that Know Your Lemons produces are easy to share, easy to understand, and help you get over that awkwardness that may come from trying to discuss breast cancer and its symptoms otherwise. So it was a no-brainer when I saw that they had applications to become an educator with them. I would do it a hundred times over!”

Gem was diagnosed with breast cancer at the young age of 31 and has been a Know Your Lemons Educator since March 2021. Gem teaches over Zoom and in person regularly to about 12-15 people and has taught almost 200 people in the short amount of time she has been volunteering. The reason for her success is her own experience with breast cancer which fuels her to teach others.

“It is not a great journey to go through and it lasts way longer than can be imagined. I want people to be educated so they get diagnosed earlier and don't have to go through what I went through then and now.” 

Like many of our educators Gem has a passion for this work because she knows the impact that it can have on a life. You can support Gem in her efforts to teach more people by going to our donation page. 

Transcription: “Hi my name is Gem and I am from the beautiful island of Barbados. I became an educator with Know Your Lemons for two reasons. One, I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 31 which is a bit young. And i don't want anybody else to have to go through the things that I went through because of the stage at which I found my cancer. The second reason is the infographics that Know Your Lemons produces are easy to share, easy to understand, and help you get over that awkwardness that may come from trying to discuss breast cancer and its symptoms otherwise. So it was a no-brainer when I saw that they had applications to become an educator with them. I would do it a hundred times over!”