On February 4th, 2020 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After many tests, what doctors initially thought was a benign cyst turned out to be the word you hope you never hear from a health care provider. Mucinous carcinoma was what I had, a rare type of breast cancer that occurs mainly in older women...perhaps I have an old soul. To make things more bizarre I had no family history of breast cancer, and the genetic testing I persued immediately upon diagnosis showed I was negative for any genetic link to the disease. Maybe I ate a few too many chicken nuggets as a kid, who knows.

So, just as the pandemic was setting in, I began surgery followed by chemotherapy. The timing of my diagnosis was a double edged sword. Times were already so uncertain due to covid but with my schooling moving online at just the right time I was able to complete my Bachelor of Nursing and only managed to actually miss one day of classes.

I am lucky to say I have recieved the all clear on my yearly tests for the third time and hope that continues in the future. I'm grateful to be able to do this run, knowing I very well could have been going through treatment again this Fall. I also know there are many people that aren't so fortunate and I'm running for them.

Thank you to all my incredible friends and family for all of your support. I couldn't have done it without you.