Posts by Caroline O'Donnell
Meet the Models: Alissa Christie, Love Local, Newburyport
Hi Everyone- welcome to Love, Local on this beautiful evening. And thank you for supporting Runway for recovery and such an amazing cause.
My name is Alissa Christie, I live here in Newburyport, with my husband and two daughters. I’m here to tell the story about my beautiful mother, who was my best friend – and her 18 year battle with breast cancer that ultimately took her life 6 years ago.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Shauna Ryan Epstein, Love Local Newburyport Remarks
Hi. My name is Shauna and I joined the Runway community 2 years ago. I danced in honor of
my sister Carly Caswell who passed away from Breast Cancer in 2011.
My public speaking is equivalent to my dance moves so I will keep this short but I did want to
say a few words.
Meet the Models, Nina Abelowitz,
I have to be totally honest, I never attend events like this.
No, it’s not because I don’t believe in them, or don’t have the time, it’s because I’ve dedicated my entire career to cancer care and I feel I’ve given a ton back to the community that way. And I have.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Rebecca Muse-Orlinoff, Love Local, Concord
My name is Rebecca Muse-Orlinoff; I am a Concord native; I moved back almost two years ago with my
husband Justin and two kids, Levi and Zara who are in first grade and kindergarten at Alcott. We love it
here – the great schools, wonderful people and community – and it’s sort of a comfort to know that the
level of cell phone service is about the same as when I last lived here. In the nineteen hundreds.
Meet the Models, SoCal: Jo Lynn Stueve & Carrie Purunjian
Jo Lynn Stueve was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in 2010. She was shocked: “I didn’t believe it. I was in total denial.” She had no family history and had emphasized being healthy and active her entire life.
Read MoreMeet the Models, SoCal: Tiffany Arias
Tiffany Arias spent each afternoon after school at her grandmother’s house: “she was always feeding anyone who came through the door.
Read MoreMeet the Models, SoCal: Shirley Yu
Shirley Yu’s breast cancer came as a massive surprise. She was adamant about receiving mammograms every two years and had previously been in the clear. She herself had witnessed her “niece” (though not technically related) Rachael Hsin pass away from the disease. Regular screenings gave her piece of mind, especially because she had already overcome uterine cancer.
Read MoreMeet the Models, SoCal: Jean Mackie
Jean Mackie has often felt powerless in the face of breast cancer. She has witnessed the disease take root in many friends and five years ago she never would have imagined it would take the life of her friend Racheal (for whom Runway SoCal began). When speaking about Rachael, Jean lights up saying, “Rachael was just plain fun. The world was robbed. She was kicking it and then suddenly, her life was done.”
Read MoreMeet the Models, SoCal: Rhonda Ganucheau
A simple scratch of an itch on Rhonda Ganuchea’s chest saved her life. In that quick moment she felt a bump that would turn out to be stage 2 invasive breast cancer.
Read MoreMeet the Models, SoCal: Laurie Ruiz
After a strange feeling under her armpit prompted a doctors appointment, Laurie Ruiz was sent for a mammogram and ultrasound, quickly followed by a needle biopsy. Her self-discovery paid off in that Laurie’s cancer was caught early- stage 1, estrogen positive breast cancer. She remembers her doctor saying, ““if you’re to get breast cancer, this is the best kind.”
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