I can't believe it has been 5 years since I first attended this conference!!
Brian and I, having never talked to another young woman living with this disease (other than my family friend Vicki Speakman!!) walked into a room full of over 450 other young women and their supporters just like us. It was so incredible, so powerful and overwhelming. We were still struggling to cope with being less than one year from our wedding, less than one year from my diagnosis, less than one year from the loss of my grandmother, less than one year from the loss of so much . . .
And also the begining of so much!
The conference is where I met Jill Hymer and we decided to form the Ohio Chapter of the Young Survival Coalition (which she now chairs!). The conference is where I first met all the amazing and engaging young women on the Board who founded this incredible organization - of which I am so honored and blessed to be Vice-President of! The conference is where I began to realize that some of the most powerful warriors in this battle aren't even survivors, but legislators, advocators, husbands, partners, lovers, family, and friends. The conference is what started it all!
This year, over 1,000 attendees are expected!!
If you know someone who was diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age, no matter her age now, I urge you to let her know about this amazing conference!! Attending solo is encouraged and rewarding! She will come away with powerful connections!
Also, make sure she knows about the Young Survival Coalition - the premier organization focused on the needs of young women with breast cancer.
And if you don't know anyone - consider making a small monetary donation -Scholarships for this year's conference are already depleted - perhaps you can help with next years?? $5 can pay for the cost of breakfast for a conference attendee!! at the YSC site!!
Peace in this new year!
Brian and I, having never talked to another young woman living with this disease (other than my family friend Vicki Speakman!!) walked into a room full of over 450 other young women and their supporters just like us. It was so incredible, so powerful and overwhelming. We were still struggling to cope with being less than one year from our wedding, less than one year from my diagnosis, less than one year from the loss of my grandmother, less than one year from the loss of so much . . .
And also the begining of so much!
The conference is where I met Jill Hymer and we decided to form the Ohio Chapter of the Young Survival Coalition (which she now chairs!). The conference is where I first met all the amazing and engaging young women on the Board who founded this incredible organization - of which I am so honored and blessed to be Vice-President of! The conference is where I began to realize that some of the most powerful warriors in this battle aren't even survivors, but legislators, advocators, husbands, partners, lovers, family, and friends. The conference is what started it all!
This year, over 1,000 attendees are expected!!
If you know someone who was diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age, no matter her age now, I urge you to let her know about this amazing conference!! Attending solo is encouraged and rewarding! She will come away with powerful connections!
Also, make sure she knows about the Young Survival Coalition - the premier organization focused on the needs of young women with breast cancer.
And if you don't know anyone - consider making a small monetary donation -Scholarships for this year's conference are already depleted - perhaps you can help with next years?? $5 can pay for the cost of breakfast for a conference attendee!! at the YSC site!!
Peace in this new year!
