2026 Komen Northwest Ohio Race for the Cure

Five years ago, cancer completely changed my life. There were surgeries, radiation, treatments, side effects, lymphedema, medications, fear, tears, and more “Are you freaking kidding me?” moments than I can count. There were also people who showed up, held my hand, made me laugh, listened when I needed to scream, and reminded me that I wasn’t walking through it alone.

Reaching five years doesn’t erase everything that came before it. But it gives me another reason to celebrate, another reason to be grateful, and another reason to keep talking about this ridiculous disease.

And that’s where you come in.

Maybe you can donate. Maybe you can join me at the Race for the Cure. Maybe you can share my fundraiser. Maybe you can schedule the mammogram you’ve been putting off. Maybe you can check your boobs — and check your friend’s boobs, too. Maybe you can simply remind someone you love that breast cancer doesn’t only happen in October.

Whatever you can do to spread awareness, encourage early detection, support research, or help someone going through it — do it.

Because behind every statistic is a person. A mom. A daughter. A sister. A wife. A friend. A coworker. Someone who has a life they still want to live.

I’m incredibly grateful that I get to keep living mine. ❤

So here’s to five years of survivorship, to the people who got me here, to the people still fighting, to the ones we’ve lost, and to doing whatever the hell we can to make sure fewer people have to hear the words “you have cancer.”

Cancer messed with the wrong boobs.

And five years later, I’m still here — and I’m still making noise.

If you can donate, thank you. If you can share, thank you. If you schedule that mammogram, THANK YOU. And if you check your boobs and your friend’s boobs today…well, you’re doing important work.