HELA100: The Henrietta Lacks Initiative

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In loving memory of Lawrence Lacks Sr, affectionately known as “Pop-Pop,” and “Papa Lawrence”.

Lawrence peacefully transitioned on Saturday, August 26, 2023, surrounded by his family.

Lawrence, Henrietta Lacks' last living child, an influential advocate, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, partner, and friend was only 16 years old when his mother, Henrietta, suffered a rapid and painful death from metastatic cervical cancer in the "colored ward" of Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1951.

Lawrence spent the last sixty-three years of his life fighting endlessly for the rightful recognition, justice, and ownership of his mother’s cell line-the HeLa cell line, but most importantly, for his family name.

Lawrence and his late wife Bobbette were dedicated to their family and their community. Lawrence and Bobbette opened businesses around their beloved community in Baltimore, Maryland, including an insurance agency, a confectionary store, and Lacks Meats Palace. Lawrence championed the passing of The Henrietta Lacks Enhancing Cancer Research Act and was pivotal in the efforts to posthumously award Henrietta Lacks with the Congressional Gold Medal. Lawrence's efforts were recognized globally; in 2021, he accepted the World Health Organization Director-General's award posthumously to Henrietta Lacks, and in 2022, Lawrence was named a WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Cervical Cancer Elimination.

Lawrence advanced his family's HELA100: The Henrietta Lacks Initiative as an advisor, advocate, speaker, and historian whom traveled the world to share his invaluable insights with global leaders, students, researchers, and community leaders.

We honor his legacy.

HELA100: The Henrietta Lacks Initiative

her legacy lives on

On August 1, 2020, The Lacks Family launched "HELA100: Henrietta Lacks Centennial CELLebration" to honor her legacy on the occasion of Henrietta's 100th birthday!

Advancing hela100

In 2021, honoring Henrietta’s 101st birthday, The Lacks Family announced the advancement of HELA100 as the “HELA100 The Henrietta Lacks Initiative” while commemorating 70 years since her HeLa cells changed the world and her untimely death.

HONORING HENRIETTA

Since 1951, Henrietta's HeLa cells, taken without her or her family's knowledge or consent, would become responsible for some of the greatest scientific advancements of the century and continue to benefit all of humanity.

LACKS FAMILY-LED

Today, The Lacks Family, invites the world to support our mission to preserve our grandmother's legacy by educating future generations on the impact of her phenomenal HeLa cells while promoting health equity

and social justice.

Advancing Her Legacy

HELA100 Conversations

HELA CELL IMPACT POSTER

HELA100 Conversations

Join The Lacks Family, experts and community leaders in educating the next generation on Henrietta Lacks' impact

- one conversation at a time.

who honors henrietta

HELA CELL IMPACT POSTER

HELA100 Conversations

Watch the World Health Organization (WHO) Honor Henrietta Lacks with the WHO Director-General’s award, recognizing her world-changing legacy.

WATCH HERE

HELA CELL IMPACT POSTER

HELA100 collaborated with Tech/Culture Writer x Designer Semmi W. on this first Lacks family data visual honoring Henrietta. Order your poster on the HeLa cell's impact.

ORDER POSTER

bbc 100 women

HELA AT 70 JOURNAL ARTICLE

HELA CELL IMPACT POSTER

Lacks Family Nurse Victoria Baptiste, BSN, RN, was humbled to be named as a 2022 BBC 100 Women in recognition of her vaccine education work.

Learn more

Honor our hometown Hero

HELA AT 70 JOURNAL ARTICLE

The Lacks Family is proud to collaborate with Halifax County-South Boston NAACP Chapter to honor Henrietta Lacks in her hometown through the Henrietta Lacks Hometown Initiative.

GIVE today

HELA AT 70 JOURNAL ARTICLE

Veronica Robinson and Victoria Baptiste, RN BSN are the first Lacks family members to publish a journal article. Read about HELA100's collaboration with the University of Bristol's Dr. Caroline McKinnon.

READ ARTICLE