30th Anniversary Support-A-Walk for Breast and Ovarian Cancer

I wrote this in 2020, and though Mom has passed, I still don’t believe I can write it any other way:

My mom, Andrea Karl, is a peer counselor at Support Connection. Through her role, she provides an ear, a hug, and her heart to hundreds of women as they fight through their breast and ovarian cancer diagnoses.

Ironically enough, our story with Support Connection starts the year before my mom's own breast cancer diagnosis, in 2001. We attended the walk that year with my aunt and uncle, as they had done for many years while their daughters played for the Lakeland Field Hockey team.

Mom had never anticipated needing to use Support Connections services, but was relieved that they were there to walk with her through the process of diagnosis, surgery, and chemotherapy. She was able to use her peer counselor, Maria, as a sounding board for all of her concerns. Mom successfully fought through her year, and has taken an active role with Support Connection ever since. She is the epitome of paying it forward.

This year, while organizations closed down during the pandemic, Support Connection kept its proverbial doors open to continue to support women who were now not only working through a diagnosis, but an unprecedented time in all of our lives. I have seen first hand the work that my mom puts in daily to make sure she is supporting her women to the fullest extent as she has worked from home. Not only has she been supporting local women, but women across the nation have been calling Support Connection's free hotline and support groups. I know that Mom and every woman who works and volunteers for Support Connection is still working tirelessly to accomplish their mission of support.

While many organizations do share Support Connection's information to help women with cancer, they do not help fund Support Connection. Support Connection is truly a community centered operation that needs my and your help. Please consider donating, as these services mean so much to so many women and their families.

It's easy for you to help! Click the donate button on this page to make a secure online donation. Support Connection is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization, so all donations are tax deductible. Donations of any amount have a positive impact.

MATCHING GIFTS: Many companies will "match" their employees' contributions, which can double your donation! Ask your employer if they have a matching gift program and how to submit for it.

Please give whatever you can - together, we can make a difference!

If you’d like to learn more about Support Connection or the Support-A-Walk, visit their website: supportconnection.org. Thank you!