Making Strides for Breast Cancer

Katie is a partner manager at a software company and a board member of The Young Breast Cancer Project. Diagnosed with ER/PR+, HER2- breast cancer in December 2020 at age 34, she faced a recurrence in the summer of 2022. Now 40, she brings her experience as a two-time survivor to her advocacy and her work with the young breast cancer community. Katie lives in Minneapolis with her goldendoodle, Belle and loves to spend time with friends and hike with Belle.

Jessica Brown is a Stanford-certified compassion teacher, clinical nutritionist, and author with over 25 years of experience helping people heal physically and emotionally. With more than ten years of specialized clinical practice in self-compassion-based parenting and mindset work, she has guided thousands toward lasting transformation. She is the author of The Loving Diet and Beyond The Shot: Inner Work for Lasting Success on Weight Loss Medications, the first book to address the unique emotional and psychological needs of people using GLP-1 therapies. Jessica is also a visiting faculty member at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, where she helped create their Mindful Eating program and is a teacher in the health coaching program. Learn more at www.thelovingdiet.com.

Lisa Lindner — Owner & Founder of Wigs By Opulence, Master Wig Artist  30+ years of hairstyling expertise with an exceptional eye for natural-looking color, cut, fit and customization. Passionate about creating a luxury, personalized experience that helps every woman feel beautifully like herself again.   Andrea Orengo — Executive Wig Specialist 20+ years of personal experience wearing wigs and toppers, bringing genuine understanding and real-world expertise to every consultation. Known for her warmth, natural-looking styling and ability to help women feel comfortable, confident and truly understood.   Melissa Schlemmer — Executive Wig Specialist Her own journey with Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA) and alternative hair gives her a deeply personal understanding of hair loss. Combines compassion, education and specialized training to create a supportive, judgment-free experience where women feel heard and confident.

Ashly is a five-year breast cancer survivor and Peer Mentor Guide with Firefly Sisterhood. After her Stage 2B diagnosis in 2021, she went through a double mastectomy, IVF, chemotherapy, radiation, and medical menopause, and now channels her experience into supporting other women navigating breast cancer. Through Firefly Sisterhood’s one-to-one mentoring program, Ashly offers understanding, resources, and hope to those looking for support. She’s passionate about showing that life after breast cancer can still be full of strength, humor, and connection—and she’s excited to share more about mentoring and survivorship on the Pink Power Hour. Kara Nielsen is the Executive Director of Firefly Sisterhood, a nonprofit that provides personalized one-to-one support for individuals impacted by breast cancer. She joined Firefly in 2023 as a Matchmaker, connecting Support Seekers with Peer Mentor Guides who offer understanding, encouragement, and hope. Her commitment to this work is deeply personal, shaped by losing her brother to cancer and witnessing her grandmother’s battle with breast cancer. She believes meaningful connection and support can make a lasting difference. Before joining the nonprofit sector, Kara built a career in graphic design and advertising, developing strengths in creative problem-solving, communication, and project management. She considers mission-driven work the most meaningful chapter of her career and brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach to strengthening Firefly’s programs and advancing its mission.

Dr. Branden Moriarity grew up in Faribault, Minnesota, and Dr. Beau Webber is from Austin, Minnesota. Both were the first in their families to attend college, eventually finding their way to the University of Minnesota, where their paths crossed during their PhD training at Itasca. They hit it off quickly and made an ambitious decision: “Let’s do science together!”More than a decade later, that friendship has grown into a unique scientific collaboration—and a team of more than 60 people working at the intersection of genome engineering, stem cell biology, cancer immunotherapy, and gene therapy. Their research uses cutting-edge technologies, including CRISPR, base editing, transposons, and viral gene delivery, to engineer immune and stem cells with the goal of developing better treatments for cancer and genetic diseases. Their work is driven by a shared commitment to moving discoveries from the laboratory toward patients.  

We were podcasting live from the Making Strides for Breast Cancer by the American Cancer Society at the Mall of America in Richfield Minnesota! We had so much fun talking with previvors, survivors, thrivers, friends, caregivers and so many more awesome friends! Thank you all so so much for joining us and coming to chat with us! We cannot wait for next year. Special GINORMOUS thank you to all the Portraits of Hope, Angela Davis and of course Maryann Malec for her tireless work on Making Strides! So so proud of you all! 

In 2024 Rae Ann was diagnosed with breast cancer. She believes every cancer diagnosis is scary and breast cancer is very intimate and personal! She was lucky and had good results, good medical care and good insurance. So many women are not that fortunate and have to make hard decisions between feeding the kids or their own health. She wondered how she could share her blessings with others? She designed for Drag Queens over the last 20 years! She called on her clients to help. The community stepped up and Cancer is a Drag was born! Her first event raised over $5000, well surpassing her goal! This year they are aiming for $15,000. Welcome to the pink power hour, Rae Ann! Find Cancer is a Drag on Facebook for all the updates for her event on October 17th from 12-5pm at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park! Episode 2 is sponsored by the best at Youngstedts! For all your car needs, Youngstedts has the answer!  

Jenna and Amy talk about all the happenings over the summer with events, Love Stays, and talk about upcoming events for October. We have So many opportunities to support Pink Power Foundation this coming October including our Pink Power Pickleball Classic, Pink Power Carnival, Making Strides for Breast Cancer and so much more!  Our first episode is sponsored by the best at Youngstedts! For all your car needs, Youngstedts has the answer!

Dying to Climb is my quest to return to the summit of Mount Everest while living with Stage 4 breast cancer. I first stood on top of Everest in 2005. Today, as a researcher in exercise and cancer, I study the very disease that now threatens my own life. A Stage 4 diagnosis changes how you see the world — and what truly matters. This expedition is more than a climb. It is a scientific mission—and an effort to inspire others to see what may be possible. By attempting this ascent, I hope to: *Inspire others facing their own battles, showing that courage and hope can exist even in life’s hardest moments. *Raise vital funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, whose work has become profoundly personal to me. *Conduct research to understand how low oxygen levels affect the immune system in cancer. This climb is not just about reaching a summit — it is about standing for possibility, even in the face of advanced disease. If you can support this expedition, your donation will help thousands of people living with cancer receive the care and guidance they need. My journey will also be documented in a feature film, sharing a story of resilience, science, and the drive to keep moving forward despite adversity. You can follow my progress on Instagram or at www.dyingtoclimb.com for more information. "When the mountain feels too high, remember: you are stronger than you think." Many thanks, Shaunna

Cheryl Holt lives in Minneapolis with her two dogs, where she works full time-ish for a technology manufacturing company and is a caregiver to her elderly mom. She has 3 adult kids who live out of state, 2 grandsons, grandpuppies & grandkitties. At age 48, she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, just a few short months after becoming a widow. She has become a breast cancer mentor and feels passionate about helping others through their journey with breast cancer. She hopes to show others that no matter what life throws at you, it is important to keep going.