It’s Personal—Family, Cancer, and Treatment

Joning the Fight Against Cancer

Freda, described by her daughter as the epitome of strength, received her cancer diagnoses nearly one year ago, and since then has undergone three rounds of chemotherapy to try and treat this aggressive form of cancer.

“My mom’s leukemia diagnosis came out of nowhere. It was nothing that we were prepared for,” said Alexandra.

Faced with the emotional struggle of her mother’s cancer treatment, and after having just lost her 30-year-old brother-in-law to lung cancer, Alexandra felt a little helpless. “I knew I couldn’t change the situation that was handed to us. As I would rock my baby to sleep, my head would spin... I’d lost my brother-in-law, my mom is facing the biggest battle of her life… how can I help, how can I make a difference?

I realized that my mom was getting the care she was getting because of the role philanthropy plays in improving cancer care. What if this treatment wasn’t available? Where would my mom be now? I then knew that fundraising was the best thing I could do to help.”