The founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Nancy Brinker, showed the personal connection she shares with others in the fight against breast cancer as she signed copies of her new book “Promise Me” at the university bookstore Wednesday.

Brinker received gifts from Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief and musician and alumnus Tim Halperin and took part in the Frogs for the Cure tradition of planting a pink flag in front of Sadler Hall. Brinker said she began Komen for the Cure to keep a promise she made to her sister Susan G. Komen, the organization’s namesake.

According to its website, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest network of breast cancer survivors and activists dedicated to fighting the disease.

Students, faculty, staff and other members of the university community met Brinker and received personalized signatures on Brinker’s book as well as hats and T-shirts. Brinker said her book is a personal memoir to tell her sister’s story and to show the progress of the fight against breast cancer.

Brinker said she loved the book tour because it let her get in touch with other people involved in the breast cancer effort.

“People give each other hope,” Brinker said. “And if I can do nothing more than give people hope, that’s good enough for me.”

The university was a unique destination for Brinker because it was the first time she visited a college campus for a book signing. However, she said that when she received the invitation to come to campus, she felt thrilled to accept.

Her appearance began with cheers from a crowd lined up with banners in front of the bookstore. Members of the university community, students, faculty, staff, cheerleaders, local firemen, the mayor and Frogs for the Cure chairwoman Ann Louden all greeted Brinker when she arrived.

Once inside, Brinker watched a music video that will be shown at halftime of the Frogs for the Cure football game Saturday. The video included 40 groups and organizations from around campus and was set to music written by Halperin.

After viewing the video, Moncrief gave Brinker a key to the city of Fort Worth as a sign of appreciation and respect.

Halperin also presented Brinker with a framed single of his song “We Fight Back” and a dozen pink roses. Halperin donated his portion of the song’s proceeds from iTunes to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Ellen Broom, a university lecturer in psychology, said Brinker’s visit meant a lot to her personally because she also survived breast cancer. When she got her books signed, she talked with Brinker about her own personal experience.

“I told [Brinker] when I was speaking with her that I have two small children and they were six and eight when I was diagnosed,” Broom said. “And I feel like her work is why I’m here.”

Broom said she would be attending Saturday’s game against Brigham Young University. She said she was looking forward to seeing the music video at halftime and the crowd’s reaction.

“Whether breast cancer is your cause or not, the impact that one woman has had on the world is amazing when you think about it,” Broom said.