Joshua Smith’s Story

How has breast cancer affected you?

Breast cancer changed Joshua Smith’s life and his family forever.

Breast cancer ran in Katie’s family, so in some ways, they expected it might appear. But they expected it to be treatable, something that could eventually move into the rearview mirror.

That was not their story.

When Katie was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, everything changed. Joshua and Katie were still building their family and building the life they had planned together. Breast cancer took away so much of what they imagined.

“It really changed our life,” Joshua says.

Even though Joshua was not the one diagnosed, breast cancer became part of his life too. It changed him, changed his children, and gave him a deep desire to support others facing the disease, especially those living with metastatic breast cancer.

“Now that I’ve been affected by it, and my family’s been affected by it, I have a certain desire to support other people,” he says.

What does returning to Runway mean to you and your family?

For Joshua, returning to Runway is about honoring Katie.

Katie was the one who first connected their family to Runway. It brought her joy: the event, the community, the celebration, and the feeling of being surrounded by people who understood.

Runway also supported their family during an incredibly difficult time.

Joshua remembers the organization helping with things like gas and groceries when they were still in the trauma of everything that was happening.

“It was a huge relief,” he says.

Now, being part of Runway’s 20th Anniversary Show feels deeply meaningful. It is a way to maintain that connection, honor Katie’s memory, and continue showing their children how loved their mother was and still is.

“I’m confident this is what she would want,” Joshua says.

What was it like for your children to be part of Runway?

Last year, Joshua could see that his children were apprehensive at first.

They were not entirely sure what to expect. But once they experienced the Runway community, something shifted.

This year, when Joshua told them they would be walking again, they were excited.

“They’re like, ‘Yay! That was so much fun,’” he says.

For Joshua, that matters.

His children could feel the energy in the room. They could feel the love, the support, and the joy of honoring their mom in a space created for families like theirs.

Runway gives them a way to celebrate Katie out loud.

“We don’t have so many opportunities to really just kind of put that out there,” Joshua says.

What advice would you give to another family facing metastatic breast cancer?

Joshua’s advice comes from what he and Katie tried to do together.

“Just live every day and appreciate everything in the day,” he says.

He knows how much a diagnosis can take up. It can dominate appointments, conversations, fears, and plans. But he also believes there can still be room for memories, joy, and living fully in the time you have.

“Make memories,” he says. “Have fun together.”

Joshua describes it as a kind of appreciation for life that can burn very hot. In the middle of something devastating, there can still be connection, presence, and love.

At the same time, Joshua also shares something harder.

Looking back, he wishes there had been more future planning for the years after Katie’s passing. He understands why they did not do much of it. They were focused on living in the present, making the most of their time together.

But now, he wishes he had letters from Katie to open in the years ahead.

“I wish I had a letter to open every five years from her,” he says.

It would be hard to read, he knows. But it would also be another way to feel connected to her.

 

What are we celebrating this year?

This year, we are celebrating Katie’s legacy.

On the Runway stage, we are honored to celebrate Joshua and his children as they walk for Katie.