2025 Breast Cancer Giveaway Winners

2025 Breast Cancer Giveaway Winners

This October, we asked you to share stories of strength and hope — and you delivered. Hundreds of heartfelt nominations poured in, showcasing the resilience and bravery of the breast cancer community. Today, we’re honored to introduce our four inspiring giveaway winners.

Jesse Haddock

Nominated by: Christina Haddock


My name is Christina and I just wanted to share my husband’s story.  My husband and I are coming up on our 10 year wedding anniversary this November.  We have 3 beautiful children together and 3 amazing fur babies.  I met my husband at the end of his military service.  He served 8 years with the United States Marine Corps where he served in two tours to the middle east.  My husband joined the Marine Corps in 2004 to help serve our country and fight for our freedom after the 9/11 attack.  That’s what is extra special about him, he always wants to serve others and make sure that we are protected from any evil.  My family and I always make sure to honor his service in fighting for our country and honor his drive to fight and support our family on the daily basis.  In January 2024, our lives were turned upside down when he discovered a lump in his right breast.  Being a man, he didn’t think anything of it until it began to hurt.  He went in thinking it was just a painful cyst or maybe even a pulled muscle but that optimism was very quickly shot down and the significance of that lump was presented to us.  My husband was diagnosed with Stage 2 ER/PR +, HER2 - Breast Cancer.  I remember going with him to the oncologist and feeling like I was in the middle of a tornado and everything was spiraling around us.  Thinking to myself “This can’t be possible.  He is a 37 year old man!  He is my husband and the father to my children.  We’ve only just begun our life together. This isn’t real life.” The talks of surgery, mastectomy vs lumpectomy, radiation, chemotherapy, and ports all echoed in my mind that I couldn’t even think straight.  The binder that was handed to us with pages and pages of resources and plans and diagrams.  He was scheduled for surgery 4 days after our initial oncology appointment.  Then came the port catheter, then came the chemotherapy and then came the radiation for 6 weeks.  All this time him being the main provider for our family.  I worked as a nurse part time but was thankful to be home to take care of him when he would need it which wasn’t very often.  Watching his strength through all of this was more than amazing.  His determination was indescribable.  He was cleared for work as soon as the radiation started and he jumped right on it so that he could get back to somewhat of a “normal” life.  I am happy to report that he is now in remission and his oncology doctors are amazed at how well he tolerated everything and admire his endurance.  Given his age and gender, there just wasn’t a lot of research to follow with his diagnoses but in the end we had an amazing oncology team. This didn’t break us and in fact we have a new found outlook on life.  Not only do we share this story with our friends to help raise awareness for male breast cancer but we share our story to remind everyone to not take life for granted.  My husband takes this as a true second chance to make sure and be the man he wants to be for our family.  Saying yes to all our adventures, saying yes to playing in the backyard with the kids, saying yes to coaching our little boy’s baseball team, saying yes to anything that brings our family closer together.  We found strength in each other through this difficult time.  Unfortunately, my husband lost his father to cancer when he was just 6 years old.  Our son was just 5 years old when he was diagnosed with his breast cancer.  My husband was determined to fight as hard as he could to be here for his children and family.  I’m not just sharing this story for this amazing contest but I’m sharing in hopes that all men understand that they too, are at risk and to not be in denial if they ever suspect anything.  Thank you for reading our story.


Kathy TerLouw

Nominated by: Steve TerLouw


Kathy is my wife who completed her breast cancer treatments last year.  I'm so proud of her for the way she persevered through a very difficult journey.  She didn't ask, "Why me," or become bitter about her situation, but instead took it as an opportunity to encourage healthcare workers she otherwise wouldn't have met.  She knew they were stretched thin, under appreciated, and still feeling the impact of the Covid hardships.  She took it as her opportunity to encourage them and let them know they were so very much appreciated.  What a delight for me to watch her interact with them since I had a front row seat through so many, many treatments / appointments.  I could see their countenance change as they came to look forward to seeing Kathy each time. 

Kathy loves to be outside and walk or bike as much as she can.  She is still gaining back strength and stamina.  An e-bike would give her the opportunity to be out longer.

What a great thing you are offering to those who have been on an extremely difficult journey.  I know for many it would be the enabler they need to be more active during a time where their energy and stamina is so low.


Laura Allred

Nominated by: Eric Allred


Laura was diagnosed with stage 3 Breast Cancer at 33.  At the time, she was the adoptive mom and 4 kiddos and fostering an 8 month old that was headed towards adoption.  The news was devastating and threw her and her family's life in turmoil.  She had a double mastectomy, completed chemo, adopted her baby girl and completed radiation in 9 months.  She then tried to figure out how to put back together her life post cancer.  What she found was that during cancer you have a bunch of love and support, but after you are many times left alone but still having to go through monthly appointments, scans and scares of reoccurrence with no support in place.  This drove Laura to start  Brightly Living Foundation that focuses on support both during and after diagnosis and treatment.  Over the past 3 years, the foundation has provided monthly support groups, mini retreats and mental health support to 100s of women.  

https://www.brightlyliving.org/

Breast Cancer was hard, but it has been a catalyst for so much growth, love and support.


Dawn Miner

Nominated by: Andrew Turkington


My dear friend Dawn is a breast cancer survivor who just celebrated 12 years cancer-free, a milestone that represents not only her own courage and perseverance but also the hope she has given to so many others as well. Throughout her journey, Dawn has faced life’s challenges with resilience and grace, inspiring those around her with her strength and unshakable positivity. She never let her diagnosis define her; instead, she used her experience as a source of encouragement and light for others walking difficult paths.

Most recently, Dawn embraced another joyful chapter—becoming a mother to her adopted daughter, Arika. Motherhood has brought her immense happiness, and she approaches it with the same determination and open heart that carried her through her cancer journey. Watching Dawn step into this new role has been beautiful, and it really does feel like a true testament to her perseverance and faith in life’s possibilities.

On a personal level, Dawn has touched my life deeply. Her kindness and strength have inspired me in countless ways, and she has taught me what it truly means to be a better friend. She embodies resilience, compassion, and joy, and she shares those gifts freely with the people in her life.

Winning an electric bike would be so much more than a prize for Dawn. It would be a celebration of her hard-fought victories, a tool to help her stay active and energized, and a way for her to create even more adventures with Arika. Above all, it would honor the incredible woman she is and the inspiring journey she continues to live every day.

 

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