2026 Komen Houston Race for the Cure

Support My Race for the Cure Journey

This year, I'm participating in the Susan G. Komen Houston Race for the Cure, and I'm asking for your support in a cause that has become very personal to me.

What began as a routine mammogram turned into a life-changing journey. Because I had experienced calcium deposits in the past, I assumed the recommendation for additional testing was simply another precaution. Like many women, I was busy with work, family, and a long-awaited vacation, so I convinced myself the follow-up testing could wait.

Then a colleague of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Her diagnosis became the wake-up call I needed to schedule the appointments I had postponed. The radiologists and nurses were so concerned about my results that they performed my biopsy that very same day. Two weeks later, I received the call that changed everything:

I had breast cancer.

I was fortunate. My cancer was identified early enough to give me treatment options. I underwent a bilateral mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction and continue treatment today. Every day, I am grateful for the physicians, treatments, research, and support systems that made my outcome possible.

But not everyone is as fortunate.

The screenings that found my cancer, the treatments that saved my life, and the options available to me today exist because others invested in research, education, advocacy, and patient support before I ever needed them.

That is why I am passionate about supporting Susan G. Komen.

The funds raised through Race for the Cure help provide access to lifesaving screenings, financial assistance, patient navigation, education, advocacy, and groundbreaking research. Most importantly, they give hope to patients and families facing one of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Today, I am asking for your help.

Please consider making a donation to support my Race for the Cure fundraising efforts. Every gift-regardless of size-helps create better outcomes, better treatment options, and more hope for those facing breast cancer.

I am living proof that research matters. Early detection matters. Access to care matters.

Thank you for supporting me, supporting this mission, and helping create a future where fewer families hear the words, "You have breast cancer."

~DeAnna