Lynne Cao’s Story

What does Runway mean to you?

For Lynne Cao, Runway is hard to put into words.

She is not someone who naturally seeks the spotlight.

“I’m not very much a dancer by any means,” Lynne says. “I very much enjoy being behind the scene.”

But Runway has become something deeply meaningful to Lynne and her sister, My.

My, a longtime member of the Runway community who has completed treatment for breast cancer, was the one who strongly encouraged Lynne to step onto the stage with her.

Even though dancing on stage takes courage, Lynne promised to return for the 20th Anniversary.

Together, the sisters will continue to create memories through Runway that they will always cherish.

“The memories and the pictures and everything that we take out of the experience is something that I’ll always cherish,” she says.

How would you describe the Runway community?

“It’s hard to put into words,” she says. “You almost have to be there to feel it.”

But when she tries to describe it, one image comes to mind: an embrace.

“Imagine the warmest embrace that you can possibly imagine, the tightest hug,” Lynne says. “That’s kind of how I would equate Runway for Recovery.”

For Lynne, Runway is not just an event. 

“It’s truly a tight-knit community,” she says. “It’s family.”

That sense of belonging has made Runway unforgettable for Lynne and her family.

“I think the energy, the love, the support — it’s hard to describe,” Lynne says. “In that moment, it’s indescribable.”

What will you carry with you from Runway?

Lynne will carry the memories.

She will carry the pictures.

She will carry the courage it takes to step onto the stage, even when the spotlight does not come naturally.

Most of all, she will carry the feeling of being surrounded by a community that has become family — a community she has been able to share with her sister, My.

“It’s just a love and the community of everybody and everything on that particular night,” Lynne says.

On the Runway stage, we look forward to celebrating Lynne, her courage, her sisterhood with My, and the love she has found within the Runway family.