An ingenious weapon against cancer

Photo: Jon Crispin / In 2003 Trish Bristol May '75 launched Athena Partners, a nonprofit that donates 100 percent of its profits to women's cancer research and education.

The power of one. That is the lesson Trish Bristol May ’75 hopes people learn from her battle against cancer and her success raising money for research and education. In recognition of her work, May was awarded the Connecticut College Medal during Reunion 2005.

As an economics major at CC, she enjoyed the passionate pursuit of knowledge and ideas and was empowered to get involved in the world around her. She went on to earn her MBA from the University of Wisconsin, joined Microsoft Corp. and rose to become a key marketing executive there. Then, three months after her mother died of ovarian cancer in 1993, she got her own life-altering diagnosis: breast cancer.

“I thought, ‘We have got to do something about this,’” May said. She left her job at Microsoft in 1999 to join the fight against women’s cancers. In 2003 she launched Athena Partners, a nonprofit that donates 100 percent of its profits to women’s cancer research and education.

The venture is named for the Greek goddess of wisdom and war. May transformed Athena into an athlete and a warrior against cancer by replacing her traditional spear with a javelin and her helmet with a mane of flowing hair.

Athena Partners’ first product was bottled water. In the first year of operation, the company donated $90,000 to education and research. May hopes to expand distribution nationally.

“Your ingenious fundraising efforts provide everyone with a simple and effective way to make a difference in preventing and finding a cure for women’s cancers,”College President Norman Fainstein said in presenting the medal to May. The College Medal honors those whose accomplishments have brought honor to the College.

“Connecticut College has a special place in my heart,” she said during the annual meeting of the Alumni Association in Palmer Auditorium on June 4. “For me it’s like coming home — only I don’t have to take final exams.”

View the distinguished list of recipients of the College Medal since 1969.

Read Trish May’s remarks given upon receiving the College Medal.