Hope Builders — Three Charlotte “Women in Construction” Embody the True Meaning of Friendship
Even though they may compete by day, members of the Carolinas construction community are known for being a tight-knit group on a personal level. Two Charlotte women — Erin Branham of Balfour Beatty and Beth Hernandez of DPR Construction — exemplify how professionals within our industry support one another through good times and bad.
On Saturday, March 3, Branham and Hernandez laced up their shoes to join Jane Gray Boland, Director of Marketing for A M King, for the 14th annual “Get Your Rear in Gear” 5K Run/Walk — the largest colon cancer-focused event series in the country. Boland was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer nearly four years ago. Since that time, she has persevered, against the odds — essentially becoming a “poster child” at Charlotte’s Levine Cancer Institute in celebration of her progress, positive attitude, and high energy.
In addition to having construction marketing careers in common, the three women coincidentally are Phi Mu sorority sisters, although they attended three different universities and graduated 10 years apart.
“Jane has faced cancer with a tenacity and relentless positivity that has touched hundreds of lives, including my own. One of the most caring, gracious, and compassionate women I’ve ever known, Jane’s focus is always on others. I count my friendships with Jane and Beth among my life’s greatest blessings.” Erin L. Branham
Branham and Hernandez were just a few of Boland’s construction industry peers who gathered at Charlotte’s Independence Park to show support for their friend and colleague. Boland’s team, known as “The Gray Family — Blue Ribbon Warriors,” has participated en masse since 2015 and this year were 65 team members strong. They were supported by a number of virtual participants and contributors. Collectively, the team raised more than $5,500 which will be used to educate and promote awareness for colorectal cancer, the second deadliest form of cancer.
Boland was recently spotlighted in a story headlined, “A Dose of Hope, which appears on Page 18 of the Spring 2018 issue of Momentum, a magazine of the CarolinasHealthcare Foundation.
“Get Your Rear in Gear” events across the country raise funds for the Colon Cancer Coalition, a nationally recognized partner in the fight against colon cancer. The Charlotte “Get Your Rear in Gear” event was one of nearly 50 such Walk/Runs scheduled for 2018 in various cities throughout the United States.
