HOUSTON -- This week's announcement by ABC anchor Robin Roberts that she has breast cancer is helping raise awareness about the disease. It's also raising the national profile of a group that started here in Houston. The founder is this month's Jefferson Award winner.

Karen Jackson and Sister's Network Inc. have reached out to more than 6 million women across the country in the fight against breast cancer.

The women have a message and a mission.

Cecelia Richardson is a 40-plus model who ensures that fashion show audiences know she is a breast cancer survivor.

"That is showing people you can look good and feel good, and that there is life after cancer," she said.

Philippa DeCuir is determined to establish breast cancer support groups in Africa.

"To see that we share what we know that is effective in America to go across the ocean and help women," she said.

These women's dreams would not be happening if it were not for something that happened 14 years ago.

That's when Jackson was diagnosed with breast cancer and went looking for a support group.

"Initially, I wanted to join an organization like Sisters because I felt we needed to be educated. We needed support, but we also needed that sisterhood and I didn't find that anywhere else," she said.

So, instead of joining a group, she started Sisters Network Inc. -- a breast cancer survivor's organization for African-American women. Jackson recruited women anywhere she could.

"I'd go to the movie waiting in line to buy my ticket. I'd see an African-American woman and I'd ask, 'Are you a survivor of breast cancer?' (She said,) 'I am.' (I said,) 'Would you like to join an organization?'" Jackson said.

"God gave her this vision and she has never stopped," said Gladys Sherman, one of the founding members of Sisters Network Inc. "This does so much for me to feel that I have somewhere and people who look like me to go to and confide in, and we all know about our situations."

The national headquarters started in Jackson's apartment living room 13 years ago.

Eventually, Jackson and her husband moved out as Sisters Network took over the entire space and spread across the country.

There are now affiliate chapters in 40 cities and the initial 15-member roster has grown to more than 3,000 members.

Sisters Network is hoping to move out of the 900-square-foot apartment space used by five people and into a house -- a place they will call Sisters House.

Sisters Network's national guild is focusing on fundraising to reach the $3.5 million goal to make Sisters House a reality.

They hope to have a facility close to the Texas Medical Center. It would be a combination of a national headquarters and a haven for women going through treatment.

"But we also want this to be a place where the community can come to be educated. We want to host forums and we want to conduct mammography screening," Jackson said.

For Jackson, it's all about stopping the silence in the African-American community, as well as early detection and camaraderie.

"I say, 'Don't buy the pretty hat to wear to church or new shoes. Go get your ultrasound or mammogram,'" Jackson said.

Jackson always stresses the importance of early detection.

Sisters Network is hoping that someone may come forward and donate property or a facility near the Texas Medical Center so that they can someday open the doors to Sisters House.

For more information about Sisters Network Inc., visit www.sistersnetworkinc.org.