I fundraise for a future where no one fears a cancer diagnosis. I fundraise in memory of a relative and two local friends who were recently taken by metastatic breast cancer before their 40th birthdays. I fundraise for all my breastie family so that we all can live healthy and lengthy lives.

Finding a lump at the age of 32 and subsequently being diagnosed with breast cancer at 33 was something I never imagined could happen to me. Sadly, this is a reality that affects more and more young women every year. I had no risk factors: no family history of breast cancer, no identified genetic mutations, I don't smoke, I don't drink; yet, I was part of the 12% of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and part of the 0.5% of women who receive this diagnosis before the age of 40. All this to say that anyone can be touched by cancer.

I believe research saves lives. To anyone who is able to, please donate to this cause that affects too many women (and men) in our lives. Research funding is fundamental for the discovery of new medications, new technology for more precise imaging and developing better standards of care; all of which come together to give a better outcome to individuals diagnosed with breast cancer.

Although my story is a positive one, there are many components of it that could have been different with additional research. For one, I could have been diagnosed almost 6 months earlier than I was if there had been more advanced diagnostic imaging technology. This would have meant that I could have been diagnosed with stage 1a breast cancer (8mm tumour), but instead I was diagnosed with stage 1b/2a (24mm primary tumour and 4 additional satellite tumours) and cancer cells had free reign in my body for an additional 6 months. Secondly, as part of my treatment plan I underwent chemotherapy treatments; an earlier diagnosis could have meant that I perhaps could have safely foregone these treatments and their crappy side effects.

Please donate!