Cecile Richards dies at 67 following a fight with brain cancer; who was she? Here’s what you need to know

Former Planned Parenthood president and women's rights advocate Cecile Richards lost her battle with brain cancer and died on Monday. She was sixty-seven. Richards made the enormous reproductive healthcare organization a political force and advocated for the right to an abortion.

By advocating for abortion rights, Richards assisted in turning the large reproductive healthcare organization into a potent political force. In the company of her family and her devoted dog, Ollie, our beloved Cecile passed away at home this morning.

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Her family said in a statement released to NBC News on Monday, "Our hearts are broken today, but no words can do justice to the joy she brought to our lives,” as quoted in a report.

Richards spent a large portion of his early years alternating between Dallas and Austin after being born on July 15, 1957, in Waco, Texas. Due to her parents' strong progressive views, she became involved in politics at an early age.

What Legacy Does Cecile Richards Leave Behind?

After completing her studies at Brown University, Richards started working as a labour organizer in Louisiana. There, she met Kirk Adams, her husband, who went on to become a leader in the powerful Service Employees International Union.

The women's rights advocate became president of Planned Parenthood in 2006, growing the organization's volunteer and donor base from three million to eleven million, making it one of the most popular political groups in the nation. She raised more money than the organization had ever raised in its history and brought new life to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, its political advocacy arm.

"It is difficult to imagine future generations asking: 'When there was so much at stake for our country, what did you do?'" Richards' family said in a statement in remembrance of her. The only response that is appropriate is "everything we could."

FAQs

Who was Cecile Richards?
Cecile Richards, a women's rights activist and former president of Planned Parenthood, is credited with turning the organization into a political force and advocating for reproductive rights.

What impact did Cecile Richards have on Planned Parenthood?
Richards, who served as president beginning in 2006, increased the organization's contributors and volunteers to 11 million and revitalized its political advocacy arm, resulting in record-breaking support.