Runway Shows
Mariah Powell’s Story
Mariah Powell is bringing her story, her purpose, and her joy to Boston.
Since becoming part of the Runway community, Mariah has continued to grow into the kind of advocate she once hoped to see: a visible, honest, inspiring face for other Black women navigating breast cancer.
Now, as she prepares to come to Boston and step into a new role as a model mentor, Mariah is also building something of her own in Virginia Beach: a 5K fundraiser on the oceanfront to benefit Runway for Recovery.
Read MoreJenn Monkiewicz’s Story
Jenn Monkiewicz is returning to Runway’s 20th Anniversary Show because, for her, Runway has become much more than an event.
“It’s a community that truly understands this journey,” she says.
She knows survivorship is not just about getting through something. It is about finding your way forward and creating a meaningful life.
“I’m especially grateful to step onto the Runway again,” Jenn says, “not because of what happened to me, but because of where I am today and the life I continue to choose to live.”
Read MoreAnn Reis’s Story
Today, 17 years after being diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer, Anne Reis is in total remission and no longer taking medication.
Anne returns for Runway’s 20th Anniversary Show with deep gratitude, joy, and purpose: walking for herself, her children, her grandchildren, and especially her late twin sister, Molly.
For Anne, this year is a celebration of life, survivorship, family, and the sister whose spirit is always with her.
Read MoreKathryn & Savannah’s Story
Kathryn Phillips and her daughter, Savannah “Savy,” have grown up with Runway across nearly every chapter of its history.
Kathryn first walked the Runway in 2007 in honor of her mother, Susan, who passed away from metastatic breast cancer.
Three years later, Kathryn returned to the stage while navigating breast cancer herself, this time with young Savy beside her.
They have been dancing on the Runway stage ever since!
“Once you’re in, you’re in for life,” Savy says.
Read MoreAmy Burke’s Story
Amy Burke has always wanted to prove to herself that she could run a marathon.
This year, she did exactly that as part of Runway for Recovery’s first Boston Marathon team.
At the time, Amy was still in maintenance treatment, receiving a monthly shot and seeing her oncologist every month. But when Runway received marathon bibs, Amy knew it was her sign.
“If I’m going to run it for someone, I’m going to run it for Runway,” Amy says.
Read MoreDeborah Williams’s Story
Living with metastatic breast cancer, Deborah has had to navigate the mental exhaustion that comes with knowing treatment may never fully end.
Someone once told her something that has stayed with her:
“It takes more energy to worry about dying than it does to live.”
Deborah carries that with her.
“Spend your time living day to day instead of spending your time worrying about if you’re going to die,” she says.
This October, Deborah returns to the Runway stage ready to dance, celebrate, and spend her energy living.
Read MoreAngela LaFave’s Story
Angela LaFave first understood breast cancer through her father.
In 2015, her dad was diagnosed with breast cancer, a disease most people still rarely associate with men. He had a mastectomy and made it through that chapter. Years later, in 2020, Angela stood beside him as leukemia took his last breath.
That same year, during the isolation of COVID, Angela was diagnosed with breast cancer herself.
This October, Angela steps onto the Runway stage carrying both stories: her father’s and her own.
Read MoreSara Weiss’s Story
Sara Weiss’ children have grown up on the Runway stage.
When Sara first became involved, they were young, watching their mother turn her breast cancer diagnosis into purpose. Over the years, Runway became part of their lives too — a place where they could feel connected, understood, and empowered to help others.
For Sara, that may be one of Runway’s greatest gifts: giving children a place to belong, to understand what their families have been through, and to learn that they can make a difference too.
“Runway has meant the world for them,” Sara says.
Read MoreSiobhan Donovan’s Story
Siobhan Donovan is returning to the Runway stage with her children by her side.
When Siobhan was first diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, her children were so young that much of the cancer world was outside their understanding. Now, as they get older, Siobhan wants them to experience the parts of this community that have brought her support, joy, and connection.
“It’s not all bad,” Siobhan says. “It’s not all bad, and you’re not in it alone.”
As she approaches five years since her diagnosis, Siobhan is holding many emotions at once: gratitude, joy, fear, heaviness, and hope. Through it all, Runway has helped her feel seen as someone who is still living her life while living with cancer.
“Runway just makes you feel seen,” she says.
Read MoreMena Granatino’s Story
Mena Granatino calls her Runway fundraising page Twin Blessings.
The name holds more than one meaning. When Mena found her breast cancer, she was with her twin grandchildren, who were newborns at the time. In the middle of fear and uncertainty, they were a beautiful reminder of love, family, and everything she wanted to keep moving forward for.
“It makes you feel not as alone,” Mena says.
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