I am celebrating my 5th year of being a breast cancer survivor! From my diagnosis in 2005 to today I have endeavored to take this change in my health and turn it into a positive experience in every way possible. My husband, Ron, of close to 40 years and my four adult children, their mates and my three grandchildren have been by my side since day one, encouraging me and cheering me on. We have participated in the Peoria, IL Race for the Cure together as a family and the last two years of the race we have expanded to a team, Bev’s Brigade. It’s exciting as extended family and friends join us in support of the team from all over the United States!

As teams chairperson for the Peoria, IL Race for the Cure committee I endeavor to encourage others to raise funds, form teams and help us provide free mammograms, educate about early detection of breast cancer and enable research to put an end to this disease. My prayer is that someday soon I can tell my three year old granddaughter this is a concern she’ll never have to face because we’ve found a cure!