FOX Carolina 21Donors question Susan G. Komen's relationship with Planned Parenthood

Donors question Susan G. Komen's relationship with Planned Parenthood

When Deb Osborne walked through Falls Park in downtown Greenville Friday afternoon, she also thought about her life's journey.

"I had 6 chemos, I had 35 radiations," Osborne said.

She is a breast cancer survivor.

"I was so blessed that I was here in Greenville County to be able to be treated and fight this cancer," she said.

As part of that fight, she volunteers with the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

The organization raises money for breast cancer research and in some cases gives funds to health facilities for breast cancer screenings. But now some donors are hesitant to give money because of the foundation's relationship with Planned Parenthood.

"I wouldn't feel comfortable with that so," Robert Denikas said.

He said women can also get abortions at Planned Parenthood, something he doesn't support.

"How do I know that its just going for breast screenings you know? I don't know that they're setting a little bit aside for abortions." he said.

But Wanda Todd said breast cancer is too deadly of a disease to become a political pawn.

"It does so much more than abortion. I think that is what is zoomed in right now because of the political season were in," she said.

Ryan Tollefson is the Executive Director of the Mountains to Midlands affiliate in South Carolina.

"South Carolina is one of the worst states in terms of breast cancer mortality rates. Our job here is to make sure that's not the case," she said.

She said funds at the affiliate help those with breast cancer.

"We have never funded Planned Parenthood. We have never received a grant application from Planned Parenthood," Tollefson.

Administrators with the national office decided to stop funding organizations under government investigation and that included Planned Parenthood. It is under investigation over whether or not federal funds pay for abortions. But then Susan G. Komen  reversed that decision and decided to continue funding.

The Susan G. Komen CEO, Nancy Brinker released this statement:

"We have been distressed at the presumption that the changes made to our funding criteria were done for political reasons or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood. They were not."

Either way, Deb Osborne said she wants everyone to concentrate on saving lives.

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