Katie Couric's presence is 'life-changing' for breast cancer survivors

Katie Couric, executive director of breast cancer support organization explains showing up for survivors had a big impact on women with the disease.

Boger, a representative of the group, talked about the effect that the 69-year-old's attendance had on women who were backstage at a recent event. 

"For the women backstage, they look at their own experience with breast cancer and they wonder if it's just them," she said.

She explained, "To see somebody who they've seen their face their whole lives... it makes a huge difference for them to know that they're not alone."

The former show host said their experiences "could have threads that connect to hers," so for her to show up for them, she found "incredibly meaningful." 

She also mentioned that they get requests from thousands of organizations, "For her to say yes… it's life-changing for us," she noted.

For years, the Katie Couric Media founder has worked as a journalist and former Today show host and has been open about her own battle with breast cancer. 

Her first husband, Jay Monahan, passed away in 1998 from colon cancer, and Couric has since become an advocate for breast cancer awareness and early detection.

The pair shared two daughters, Ellie and Carrie, “They were just 6 and 2 when Jay died, so he missed so much."

Moreover, she marked, "He missed watching them grow into these incredible young women.”