Meet the Models: Melissa Dupuis
When Melissa Dupuis heard the words “you have cancer,” her world closed in. It was January 5th, 2022 at 4:00 p.m., and the diagnosis came through her online patient portal. As she sat on the couch and read the results, her one-year-old daughter was calling from the other room. Paralyzed by fear, Melissa turned to her husband and asked the only question she could manage: “Am I going to die?”
Read MoreMeet the Models: Jennifer Abbott
“We all have our own story—whether it is Stage 0 or Stage 4. It is still scary.” Jennifer Abbott’s journey with breast cancer reminds us that there is no such thing as “the good cancer.” Each diagnosis carries its own weight, fear, and physical and emotional toll.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Renee Plodzik 2025
Model Spotlight: Renee Plodzik Runway Show: New England | Diagnosed: Stage 0 at 34, Metastatic at 42 Renee Plodzik is a woman who redefines strength—not because she’s never broken, but because she’s chosen to rise again and again, even when the odds changed. She was just 34 when she received her first breast cancer diagnosis—Stage…
Read MoreKathryn & Savannah’s Story 2025
Director of Program & Completed Treatment and Legacy Model
Read MoreSarah’s Story
SoCal Model, Completed Treatment
Read MorePaula’s Story
Metastatic Breast Cancer Model & Funded Family
Read MoreMeet the Models: Karen Walsh 2025
Karen Walsh’s journey with breast cancer began in 2015 with what felt like a surreal, cinematic moment. At 40 years old, she stepped into a darkened bathroom for a moment of peace while her two young sons were glued to a movie. A sliver of light revealed a pucker on her breast, and what followed would change her life. A self-check confirmed a lump—Stage 3A invasive ductal carcinoma.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Barbara Bigelow 2025
Barbara Bigelow has spent over two decades navigating breast cancer. Her journey is one of grit, advocacy, heartbreak, hope—and survival against the odds. She’s not just a patient; she’s a force.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Joshua 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.
Read MoreSpotlight Model Boston: Christine Handy
“Lending courage until others find their own.”
Christine Handy is no stranger to the runway. A professional model since childhood, she’s graced the catwalks of major fashion houses, represented global brands, and stood confidently under the glare of countless lights. But this fall, when Christine takes the stage at the Boston Runway show, it won’t just be as a model. It will be as a beacon—of survival, of transformation, and of grace.
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