2025 Komen Columbus Race for the Cure

Heather Smith

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Your gift could provide a one month supply of Tamoxifen, a drug used to treat breast cancers that rely on estrogen for growth, to a patient in need. Every 60 seconds, somewhere in the world, someone dies from breast cancer. Your gift will help save lives! Your gift could provide a screening mammogram to an uninsured or underinsured person in need. Your gift could provide a breast prosthesis for an uninsured or underinsured woman in need. Your gift will help us reach our bold goal to reduce the current number of breast cancer deaths by 50% in the U.S. within the next decade!

My Team: Pinky Promises

My Event: 2025 Komen Columbus Race for the Cure

Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025

Welcome to My Personal Page

In May of 2015, I completed the 1-mile walk in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. It wasn't the first time I'd participated, but it was the first time I'd done it as a survivor of breast cancer; I had completed chemotherapy less than a month earlier. Today, I am 10 years cancer-free and so very grateful for the past decade: I've watched Hope marry the love of her life; I've seen Liam and Camryn graduate high school and begin their adult adventures; I've welcomed 3 beautiful grandchildren; and this summer, Steve and I will celebrate 25 years of marriage.

Having breast cancer has impacted my life in many ways, including my career. I am now a Patient Advocate at The James, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. I don't work specifically with breast cancer patients, but every day, I see the devastating impact of a cancer diagnosis. Every day, I meet those whose lives have been upended. Every day, I'm reminded that advances in diagnosis and treatment saved my life.

Steve and the kids and I have participated in a number of Komen events since my recovery, but Year 10 seems like the perfect time for me to renew my fundraising commitment. If you feel like joining us to walk (or run!) on Saturday May 17, we'd love to have you. If it feels right and sustainable for you to make a monetary donation, that would be amazing. And if neither of those things are a good fit for you right now, pray it forward for someone you know who is facing the challenge of cancer. We can all make a difference in our own way.

Thanks for all the love and support over the past 10 years!

Heather