Community Stories
Dan Straffords’s Story
Dan Strafford and his daughters are returning to the Runway stage in memory of Kim.
For Dan, returning to Runway is about his daughters. When he asked if they wanted to walk again, their faces lit up.
“It was something brought to us because of pain that brought them joy,” he says.
Read MoreSarah Hickey’s Story
Sarah Hickey dreams of being there for her daughter’s wedding.
For a long time, she imagined that certain future milestones such as this would define the fullness of her life.
But she is also learning to see that fullness in the present: dropping her daughter off at kindergarten, tucking her in at night, and sharing the small, ordinary moments that now feel anything but ordinary.
“I’m measuring the success of my life in those little moments,” Sarah says.
She still wants the big moments. But she no longer believes they are the only proof of a life well lived.
Read MoreAsha Miller’s Story
For Asha, learning to show her body as it is has become part of her survivorship.
After completing breast cancer treatment, Asha was diagnosed with vitiligo, bringing yet another layer of physical change to a body that had already been through so much.
At this year’s New York Runway Show, she made the intentional decision not to cover it.
In doing so, Asha is teaching us what it means to show up exactly as we are.
Read MorePamela Soto’s Story
Pamela was only 12 years old when her mother was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Two years later, Pamela lost her.
When Pamela had daughters of her own, she made a choice that would change the course of her own story: she got genetic testing.
The test came back positive for the BRCA gene mutation, and Pamela began early screenings. Years later, those screenings helped catch her own triple negative breast cancer at stage one.
“The choice that I made to get tested for the gene and having all the screenings early allowed them to catch it early,” Pamela says, “and give me a chance to still be here enjoying my daughters.”
Read MoreMarnie Sheeran’s Story
Through Runway, Marnie has found something that helps her reach back toward joy: connection. She has learned that healing can happen in a community.
“What Runway has given me is support — and exciting things to look forward to.”
Read MoreLaWanda Woumnm’s Story
When LaWanda began training as a 911 dispatcher with the Natick Police Department, she was excited to launch the next chapter of her life.
Six days later, her doctor called with the news: she had Stage 2 HER2+ breast cancer.
What followed was aggressive treatment, deep exhaustion, depression, financial stress, and a lesson LaWanda now carries with her: when you need help, ask for it.
Read MoreLily Hsin’s Story
Lily Hsin was only eight years old when she first shared her story with Runway.
Now 14 and starting high school, Lily continues to walk and dance in memory of Rachael, using Runway as a way to honor who Rachael was and keep her spirit present.
“It gives us a way to keep her alive,” Lily says.
Through the years, Runway has given Lily and her family a place to remember, celebrate, connect, and share Rachael’s story with others.
Read MoreLorna Brunelle’s Story
Lorna Brunelle is walking in honor of her mother, Wanda. Wanda was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and later learned it had returned as metastatic disease in her bones, liver, and lungs.
Now a two-time cancer survivor herself and currently living with stage four colorectal cancer, Lorna continues to carry her mother’s legacy forward by advocating for screening, supporting patients and caregivers, and reminding others to look for the light, even in the storm.
“I feel like having the audacity of hope is one of the most important pieces,” she says.
Read MoreLynne Cao’s Story
For Lynne, stepping onto the Runway stage is not about being a dancer or feeling perfectly comfortable in the spotlight. It is about courage, connection, and the love that surrounds her when she joins the Runway community.
“Imagine the warmest embrace that you can possibly imagine, the tightest hug,” she says. “That’s kind of how I would equate Runway for Recovery.”
Read MoreLindsay McGloughlin’s Story
Lindsay was first diagnosed with cancer at 28 years old. Her son, Charlie, was only 18 months old.
From the beginning, Charlie was her reason to keep fighting.
“He will never truly know how much he helped throughout my battle,” Lindsay says.
Now, Lindsay is 13 years out from her initial diagnosis, and Runway has become a special and safe place for both her and Charlie. He was only two years old when he made his Runway debut. This fall, he is headed to high school.
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