Community Stories
Linda Phelan’s Story
Linda’s daughters describe her as their “amazing mother who defeated cancer and never lost her positive attitude throughout the entire process.”
Linda Phelan returns to Runway with deep gratitude for the family and community that carried her through breast cancer.
Read MoreKennedy Elsey’s Story
Kennedy Elsey has made a career out of making people laugh.
As one half of Boston’s beloved Karson & Kennedy morning show on Mix 104.1, laughter has always been part of who Kennedy is. But after her breast cancer diagnosis on July 3, 2024, laughter became much harder to find.
Today, Kennedy is cancer-free. Kennedy is still funny. She is still loud. And she refuses to let breast cancer define her.
Read MoreKristen Keough-Barcelo’s Story
Kristen Barcelo was diagnosed with breast cancer at 32, when her daughter was not yet 18 months old.
Now, two years from diagnosis and one year with no evidence of disease, Kristen is beginning to feel like she can get her head above water.
This October, she will walk the Runway with her daughter in mind.
“I want my daughter to see that I’m strong,” Kristen says. “I’m okay. We’re getting through this.”
Read MoreKate Martin’s Story
Kate Martin was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer nearly 10 years ago, when her son, Ronan, had just turned two.
Now, as she approaches her 10-year cancerversary, Kate is stepping onto the Runway stage to celebrate and help pull others through.
“When you meet the people that do understand it,” Kate says, “that’s where the healing is.”
Read MoreEsther Kasin’s Story
Esther Kasin’s breast cancer story is one of persistence and self advocacy.
After years of monitoring a lump that had always tested benign, Esther knew something was different when it grew larger and became painful.
Again and again, Esther had to speak up for herself.
Read MoreMichelle Maloney’s Story
Since September 2024, Michelle has averaged about three months per treatment plan.
“I choose to wake up and be positive,” Michelle says.
This October, Michelle returns to Runway’s 20th Anniversary Show as a reminder that even when things are hard, hope is still a choice every single day.
Read MoreErica Fontes’s Story
Erica explains her reason for walking the Runway on behalf of her mother.
“It’s my way of honoring her after 10 years.”
Read MoreSharon Tarby’s Story
Sharon Tarby never thought of herself as strong until she had no choice.
In 1999, she found a lump in her right breast over Memorial Day weekend. Soon after, Sharon learned she not only had breast cancer, but was also pregnant.
Now, more than 25 years later, Sharon’s boys are grown, and she recently became a grandmother.
Read MoreLiz Mover’s Story
Liz Mover was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2018, at age 34.
As an ICU nurse, Liz understood the weight of devastating medical diagnoses. But she never expected to become the patient.
Along the way, Liz learned that asking for help is not a weakness, but a necessary part of moving forward.
Now, having experienced that journey herself, she moves forward as a model mentor—offering the same support and care that helped carry her through.
Read MoreKaleigh Sabourin’s Story
Kaleigh Sabourin is walking in memory of her mother, who passed away from triple negative breast cancer eight years ago.
After losing her mom, Kaleigh learned that even though neither she nor her mother carried a known gene mutation, her family history placed her at high risk. For Kaleigh, choosing a preventative double mastectomy felt like one thing she could do to protect her future and be here for her children.
“With the kids, I felt like it was one thing I could do,” Kaleigh says.
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