This year, I joined the Komen community and registered for the Susan G. Komen MORE THAN PINK Walk. For me, this walk is about so much more than raising money, it’s deeply personal.

When I was 15 years old, I lost my grandmother, Kathleen Conness, to breast cancer. She had bilateral breast cancer and had already survived it once. But eventually, the cancer returned, spread, and we lost her.

I was only 15, but losing my grandmother at such a young age left a lasting mark on me. I remember what it felt like to watch someone I loved fight this disease, and I remember the heartbreak of losing her far too soon.

Now, as a mother of two daughters, I think about my grandmother in a completely different way.

I think about the future I want for my girls. I want them to grow up in a world where breast cancer is no longer something they have to fear — where a diagnosis doesn't automatically mean years of uncertainty, difficult decisions, or the possibility of losing someone they love. I want them to have the opportunity to grow old with their mothers, their grandmothers, and the people they love.

And this year, my daughters are joining me in the fight. They will be participating in the MORE THAN PINK Walk and fundraising alongside me. There is something incredibly meaningful about being able to share this experience with them to tell them about the grandmother they never had the chance to know, and to teach them that we can honor her life by helping create a better future for generations to come.

This is why we walk.

I’m also proud to be walking alongside my colleagues from Firefly Aerospace as part of our team, FLY for the Cure. Having my Firefly family and my daughters by my side makes this year’s walk especially meaningful.

We are walking for Kathleen, whose life was cut short.

We are walking for the mothers and grandmothers we’ve lost.

We are walking for the women and families fighting breast cancer today.

And we are walking for my daughters and their future because I want their generation to live in a world where breast cancer is preventable, treatable, and ultimately a disease of the past.

I’m proud to support Susan G. Komen and its mission to end breast cancer forever. Funds raised help support breakthrough research and provide critical assistance to people facing breast cancer today — including emotional support, financial assistance, and navigation services that help break down barriers to care.

If you’re able, please consider making a donation to support our fundraising efforts. Every contribution helps move us one step closer to a future where fewer families have to experience the heartbreak of breast cancer.

For Kathleen.
For my daughters.
For our families.
For the future.

Every step matters. Every dollar matters. And together, we can help end breast cancer forever. 

— FLY for the Cure