The words that changed my life - "...inflamatory breast carcinoma ..." "both metastic and aggressive". In March of 2008, at the age of 36, I lost my best friend, Laurie to a 6 year battle with Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Every day of her 6 year battle Laurie was an inspiration to everyone she met. While Laurie was winning the battle, she lived like she was dying and as a result taught me to love life, drink beer and to travel! We cruised Alaska, flew to Maui in March and cruised the Mediterranean. I learned well and since then have been to Houston, Grand Cayman (now our second home), Jamaica, Wisconsin Dells, Punta Cana, the Outerbanks, Key Largo, Boston, Dallas/Ft.Worth, Michigan, Atlanta, Seattle, San Diego, Twin Cities, Maine, Tennessee, West Virginia, Williamsburg, Chicago, Myrtle Beach, Hot Springs, Arkansas and Denver. We also cruised to Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Western Caribbean Islands and the Eastern Caribbean Islands.

On top of Laurie's new education of medicine and ongoing battles, including with insurance companies, Laurie helped raise awareness of IBC and held an annual fundraiser because she knew that Everyone Deserves A Lifetime. Over the past fifteen years, in her memory Laurie's Breast Friends have attempted to raise awareness and funds wherever and whenever possible. As long as one person is educated, any trip is worthwhile. Fourteen years ago and too many times since then, the response to "you don't have to have a lump" is "what?" We are very happy that we don't hear that as often, but there are still a few and we've accepted the challenge to find them and talk to them.

Please support me as I commit to an incredible challenge. The Susan G. Komen 3-Day is a 60-mile walk over the course of three days. It will be hard, but it’s not as hard as breast cancer. It’s not as hard as chemo. It’s not as hard as getting bad news at your latest scan. It’s not as hard as saying goodbye. And that’s why I know I have to do this. That’s why I commit. That’s why I’m walking and why I’m raising money – to end breast cancer forever.

Our team members may change yearly, but we will continue until pink is just a color again! Laurie was the strongest person I will ever know. I miss her everyday!

I am a:

2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 Philly Walker

2013 Boston & Philly Walker

2014 Dallas Walker & Philly Crew

2015 Michigan Walker & Philly Crew

2016 Atlanta Walker & Philly Crew

2017 Seattle Walker & Philly Crew

2018 San Diego Walker & Philly Stalker

2019 Twin Cities Walker & Philly Volunteer & Stalker

2020 the year that wasn't

2021 San Diego Walker (Chicago and all others cancelled)

2022 Chicago Walker

2023 Denver Walker

2024 New England Walker