I never stopped living. I smiled, I laughed, I stayed positive— even when I was fighting for my life.

Nothing can prepare you for breast cancer, but support can sustain you. I wouldn’t have made it without the Breast Cancer Foundation of Central Florida, which helped me pay rent and cover my car note while I was working part-time through chemo. If you’re going to donate to breast cancer, send it to your neighbor who’s fighting, not some national brand.

It’s hard being around other survivors. I used to feel like my story wasn’t enough because it seemed ‘easier’ than others, but I’ve learned—especially through BCFCF—that my story still matters. Ashley and Kim Smiddy helped get me out of the house after my mastectomy, and that was a huge step for me.

BCFCF is more than just support—it’s a lifeline. Whether it’s financial assistance, emotional support, or simply knowing you’re not alone, BCFCF makes sure no one fights breast cancer by themselves.

Besides financial support, they give hope. I remember the first gala I worked at—they asked survivors to stand, and I looked around and thought, ‘Look at all of us.’ We are here. A testament that you can survive.

BCFCF has allowed me to make new friends with whom I felt a bond from the first hello. I love how they are the hands and feet of Jesus, helping others struggling with breast cancer

I came across Ashley on Facebook. And it just clicked. It was emotional support, but more than that. It was community. It was connection. Seeing all the fundraisers, the survivor stories—it reminded me that we’re not alone.

I knew that the BCFCF existed just from working in healthcare, but I didn’t realize how deeply they were involved in the local community until I met Ashley at a run club event. Ironically, I was a breast cancer patient preparing for surgery, and she was promoting a 5k fundraiser. Our conversation opened my eyes to the invaluable support BCFCF provides to patients and families right here at home. Since then, Ashley has checked in on me weekly, offering help while managing her own challenges. BCFCF will forever be an organization I support and promote.

BCFCF gave me a platform to give back. It’s allowed me to take my journey and use it to uplift others. And the women who support this organization? They’re amazing.

BCFCF helped me want to share with others—so we can heal in spoken and unspoken ways. It gave me a place to connect, to laugh, and to be real. It’s not just a support group—it’s life after cancer, with people who get it. BCFCF gave me the courage to lead, to laugh again, and to heal forward.