Barbara McAlister put off getting a mammogram for years. But the chance to win dinner with Clemson University head football coach Dabo Swinney and his wife, Kathleen, was all the incentive she needed to finally take care of business.

During AnMed Health’s Mammo for Dabo campaign, anyone who received a mammogram at AnMed Health in September, October or November could register to win dinner with the Swinneys. More than 300 women registered at Women’s Diagnostics, but only McAlister and 15 others were lucky enough to win invitations to the dinner.

At the event, the winners met the Swinneys and learned why they are so passionate about breast cancer research. In 2005, after seeing her sister and cousin fight the disease, Kathleen learned that she also carried gene changes that make women more likely to develop breast cancer. Knowing she faced an 88 to 89 percent chance of developing breast cancer, Kathleen underwent a preventative double mastectomy. 

“I had so much peace about it,” she said. “That’s one of the reasons we have so much passion for breast health and research … If I didn’t have that knowledge, I would have breast cancer right now or be on my way to cancer.”

Breast cancer research is one of four issues the Swinneys support through DABO’S ALL IN TEAM^® foundation. The disease has affected their lives and the lives of many players.

“It’s something we have to continue to research,” Dabo said. “You can’t just give up.”