Help Tara raise money

Imagine your life as a young adult, in the midst of developing your career, dating, maybe you're married and have children, and then you get the call...you find out you have cancer. In 2020, I was diagnosed with a stage 1b Melanoma skin cancer from a mole removal that was missed by my dermatologist during the pandemic. After two years of hearing, ‘it’s just cosmetic,’ I sought a second opinion from my pcp. That second opinion, saved my life.

The mole went from a .35 to a .85mm skin cancer within a month of my initial diagnosis. Because the depth changed so quickly, I had to get a sentinel lymph node biopsy to make sure that it didn't spread. Thankfully it didn’t!

I now have three month follow-ups with a new dermatologist that actually listens and addresses my concerns. Thanksfully I have been clear of skin cancer ever since. In the course of dealing with my melanoma and the pandemic, I gained a lot of weight back and wasn't taking care of myself. I was at an all time high of 236 lbs. From March 2021 to present I lost over 110 lbs. 

In 2022, I decided to train for my first half marathon! Knowing I wanted to be a part of something special, I decided to find a charity to run for as a part of the run for a reason program with the Pittsburgh Marathon. It was then my life changed! 

I ran for Young Adult Survivors United, which is a Pittsburgh based nonprofit agency that helps to support young adult cancer survivors age 18-39 (like myself), by providing financial, emotional, and social support programming! I'm back again, to help support them for a second year in a row.

Last year I raised over $1500 for them! Let's triple that amount!! 

Please join me in celebrating and accomplishing this not only this huge goal, but YASU! They are such an incredible organization and I can’t say enough, we are family! Your support directly impacts so many lives. I've been a part of that impact. To now not only be a member but an advocate for an organization that directly impacts young adults not only during but after their cancer diagnosis, your donation makes such difference. Thank you for the absolute bottom of my heart.