This October marks 20 years since my mom, Susie Ellis, beat breast cancer.

In 2005 she was diagnosed with invasive ductile carcinoma. With her oncologist, she nicknamed the disease "Sourkrout" and launched her own anti-cancer campaign: "Out, Out, Sourkrout." Children and teachers even made posters to cheer her on during chemo. Today, it's the name of our walk team. (In the most ironic and beautiful way, it has always been misspelled by this retired 1st grade teacher :)

That same year, after finishing treatment, the Charlotte Country Day Lower School turned the lawn pink to welcome her back to teaching. Surrounded by hundreds of students and families, she said, "I feel like the most loved person in the world."

If you knew Susie, you knew Monk, the puppet monkey she carried into classrooms and chemo wards alike, spreading laughter to children, nurses, and patients even in the hardest moments.

Today we celebrate her resilience, her positivity, and the love she continues to share with everyone around her. As Team Out, Out, Sourkrout, we walk to honor her journey and to help more families reach milestones like this one.

Thank you for supporting Susie and the fight against breast cancer. Every gift makes a difference.