Since its founding in 1982, Susan G. Komen® has led the movement to make breast cancer something that women talk about and fight in public, rather than hiding in silence. As awareness grows and treatment options improve, deaths from breast cancer have dropped by 38%.

But we’re not done. Susan G. Komen’s new bold goal is to reduce the current number of breast cancer deaths by 50% in the U.S. by 2026.

We can’t do that without reaching black women, who are almost 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than their white peers.

The first step to closing this health disparity is to help black women take charge of their breast health by knowing their risk, knowing their bodies, getting screened and talking with their doctors. That’s where the Know Your Girls campaign comes in — in partnership with the Ad Council, Susan G. Komen is creating print, television, and digital opportunities for women to learn about the importance of screening and early detection.

By giving black women the tools to take charge of their breast health, we hope to help avoid unnecessary breast cancer deaths.

Want to take action to close the breast cancer mortality disparity? Find out how to start here.