As many of you know, breast cancer hits very close to home. My mother was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer when I was only 9 years old, and was given a 20% chance to live for five years. Through participating in a clinical trial, she was able to receive more aggressive treatment than was standard procedure, and it saved her life. After more than 20 years of remission, she was again diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2017, but this time it was Stage 4 and in her spine. She's had spinal surgery and now lives with chronic pain because of this horrible disease.

This October also marks a 10 year milestone in my Aunt Lovey’s Breast Cancer journey. In 2012, she had her first treatment for Triple Negative breast cancer. Like my mother, she defied the odds as she was only given a 33% chance for full remission and recovery. Self-exams and research made her recovery possible.

Lastly, I want to hold a place for a couple women not related to me. One is a person I grew up with who is currently fighting breast cancer, and the other is my friend’s wife, Angie, who was 36 years old when she passed from breast cancer on March 5, 2020.

For years I’ve been fundraising for breast cancer, and you’ve all helped me raise over $25,000 for the cause… and while we’ve learned and treatments have advanced… we still have a ways to go. So, I ask you to join me in the fight against breast cancer, and donate to my fundraising efforts. I’ll be a volunteer crew member for the 2023 Boston 3-Day walk and every dollar helps!