Breanna's Boobie Brigade was established in 2017. This was the year my older sister, Breanna, was diagnosed with stage 3b triple negative breast cancer. At the time we had no significant family history of breast cancer, so it came as a complete shock to us. We later discovered that the BRCA1 genetic mutation runs in our family. If inherited, this raises one's lifetime chance of getting breast cancer to 85% and ovarian cancer to 40-60%. Breanna tested positive for this genetic mutation, and shortly after, so did I.

Breanna underwent 6 rounds of chemo, a mastectomy with reconstruction, and 28 rounds of radiation. After all of this, she was pronounced “cancer free.”

On May 6th 2019, my mom and I took Breanna to the ER because she was having chest pains. I left the hospital early that night because I worked in the morning - something I still regret to this day. Hours after I left, Breanna was told they found a lump in between her lungs and it was likely that her cancer had returned and metastasized.

I was sleeping by the time Breanna got back from the ER. My dad woke me up and told me to come upstairs. I’ll never forget the feeling I had in the pit of my stomach as I walked into the family room and saw Breanna laying on the couch looking at me. Her face said it all. I curled up beside her and just cried because at that moment I knew we’d eventually lose her. And exactly one year later, from that night we took her to the ER, we did.

Your heart can never be prepared for that kind of loss. She was too young. Too full of life.

I will always walk for her.

Breanna Chekay

July 12, 1990 - May 6, 2020