Meet the Models: Joshua Smith
Legacy Model Spotlight: Joshua Smith
Honoring His Wife, Katie Smith
This fall, Joshua Smith returns to the Runway for Recovery stage not with his wife, Katie, but for her. Katie passed away in December 2024 after living courageously with metastatic breast cancer for three years. While she is no longer physically with us, her spirit radiates through her family, her former students, and the greater community she inspired—especially the Runway family, where she once danced with joy, defiance, and hope.
Katie’s Story: A Life of Purpose and Presence
Katie’s story began as one of a vibrant young mother and passionate science teacher. She and Joshua were raising their two sons, then just 2 and 5, and even trying for a third when their world was turned upside down. Despite receiving a clear mammogram just six months earlier due to her strong family history, Katie was diagnosed with stage four metastatic breast cancer—a crushing blow that followed closely on the heels of a miscarriage.
Initially, Katie faced treatment with resilience, undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and a double mastectomy. That first year, she focused on survival, keeping a brave face for her children, her students, and her husband. But over time, the emotional toll deepened. She later described how her days became consumed by medical logistics—“hoping for good scans” and “living between appointments.”
Joshua reflects on that time:
“Katie’s MBC diagnosis was the worst day of my life. She was devastated, but wasted zero time in living her life to the fullest.”
Katie made a conscious choice to reconnect with joy, purpose, and community. She joined multiple support groups, worked with therapists, and became deeply involved with the metastatic community. “They’re my lifeline,” she once said. As her boys grew older and started asking more questions, Katie strived to remain honest but hopeful—always mindful that she wanted their memories to be filled with love, not just illness.
The Gift of Living in the Present
In year three of her diagnosis, Katie embraced the importance of being seen. She was often told she didn’t “look sick,” which, while well-intentioned, minimized the daily battle she fought. She worked hard to reframe what living with stage four really looks like:
“People think you either beat breast cancer and are good or you’re in hospice. That’s a misconception. You can still have hair and function day to day. You can live with it. You just have to adjust.”
She found joy in the now—whether mentoring teachers, going on long walks (when her body allowed), or dancing in the kitchen with her children when emotions felt too heavy. “Dancing can change your entire mood,” she said. It became a symbol of resilience and one of her most profound coping tools.
Joshua recalls:
“Katie never complained. She never stopped growing, creating, or loving. And she made everyone around her feel better about themselves and the world.”
Carrying Her Light Forward
Katie’s legacy is profound. Her students wrote letters to Joshua after her passing, sharing how she had changed their lives. These words, and her constant presence in their boys’ lives, are treasures he now carries forward.
Joshua and Katie made a choice, even during treatment, to keep living. They traveled—including living abroad during treatments—because adventure was core to who they were as a couple and how they wanted to raise their children. Even the logistics of Runway shows didn’t stop them. “We were determined not to let cancer take that from us,” Joshua says.
The Runway community meant the world to Katie, and now it means the world to Joshua.
“It’s one of the few organizations that really ‘sees’ all of the challenges that surround cancer that are outside of the medical domain. It also provides proof that cancer can’t eliminate joy.”
Why Joshua Walks
This year, Joshua walks to honor Katie’s wish—that her life would be celebrated and her spirit carried forward.
“We wish to honor her and her spirit. Katie danced on and off the runway. She would want us to continue living and celebrating.”
He hopes their story might offer hope to other families navigating similar losses: that grief and joy can coexist, that memories can be woven into movement, and that love does not disappear—it transforms.
Katie’s Message to Us All
“Live with purpose and intention. Life is short and fragile, but also beautiful and full of wonder.”
We remember Katie for her strength, wisdom, and light. And we are so proud to welcome Joshua back to the Runway this year, dancing not just for his wife—but for all those who continue to live, love, and honor after loss.
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To hear from Katie directly, we invite you to watch her video here.
