On my sister's 40th birthday, what should have been a day of celebration turned into one we'll never forget. Instead of blowing out candles and making wishes, she received the news no one ever expects - she had breast cancer. We were stunned. It doesn't run in our family, and the shock rippled through all of us.

Watching my sister face the unimaginable with such strength and grace has been both heartbreaking and inspiring. Through every appointment, every treatment, and every moment of uncertainty, she's shown what real courage looks like. She takes it one day at a time, and we walk beside her - literally and figuratively- every step of the way.

That's why my mom, my sister, and I walk. We walk to honor my sister's strength, to support one another, and to stand for every woman who might one day face that same life-altering surprise. We walk with hope - that one day, no one will ever receive a breast cancer diagnosis as a birthday gift.