Granite State #LightUpMBC Fun Run

• Approximately 30% of early stage breast cancer survivors will have a recurrence as metastatic disease
• Metastases can occur as early as several months to 25+ years after treatment
• 685,000 people a year die from metastatic breast cancer globally
• Only 31% of U.S. MBC patients live longer than 5 years, and only 11% of live longer than 10 years
• There is NO CURE for MBC

Jessica Moore

Jessica Moore was a nurse at a skilled care unit. She embodied the word “care”, dedicated her life as a healthcare worker to helping others and was even recognized with the “Caregiver of the Year” award by the organization that she worked for. At the age of 32, she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and passed away from the disease less than 4 years later. During her treatment, her family formed the Moore Fight Moore Strong (MFMS) organization to shine a light on the need for MBC awareness & research. In October 2017, the first bridge to light in MBC colors was the Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth, NH near her hometown.

Silvia Anstey

At the age of 50, I was diagnosed with de novo metastatic breast cancer in my liver with an unknown primary tumor. I would like to explain what that means to those who may not know. The term de novo means that I was diagnosed with stage IV BC from the get-go and didn’t go through the first 3 stages. I always think of this as “go straight to jail, do not pass go, do not collect $200” from one of my favorite board games. Being diagnosed de novo is rare, but that statistic is, unfortunately, rising from 6% to 10% this past year.

Metastatic breast cancer (or Stage IV) is breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast to the bones, lymph nodes, or other organs such as the lungs, liver, or brain. When we discovered my cancer, I had so many spots in my liver they stopped counting at 10. Now here comes the really weird part, they can’t see or feel any tumors in my breasts. Doing a liver biopsy showed strong markers of breast cancer and thus we started the treatment accordingly and so far so good. CUP (cancer of unknown primary) accounts for about 2% of cancers in the US. It may sound strange, but finding out that I have an unknown primary tumor allowed me to release any self-blame that I didn’t discover it earlier. I always did my regular self-exams and mammograms and it was never identified. That being said, my situation is very rare, so please go and schedule your mammogram and be aware of your body and any changes you experience.

MBC can happen at any age, even in your 20s, so if a doctor says no to a mammogram or further testing, you need to advocate for yourself and your loved ones!! With 98% of breast cancer deaths caused by MBC, and only 2% of BC funding going to metastatic it made me realize how important it is to raise awareness and funding for MBC research. The only charity in the US that gives 100% of all donations to MBC research is METAvivor. If we can find a cure, we can help so many!

For people that know me, I am not one to be an attention seeker or even like to talk about myself. I’m usually the ‘listener’ or ‘caretaker’. However, I feel getting this diagnosis has given me a special purpose and I have come to realize that even more when my friends and family have literally formed an army around me to support me. If you saw me you would think I look perfectly healthy but with the cancer and the medicine I take with it I have many side effects people don’t see and that’s ok. Those involved in Anstey’s Army help me with my everyday challenges, bringing me meals, driving me to appointments, asking how I’m doing, sending gifts to brighten my day, and now helping with this important fundraiser/campaign. Speaking out and sharing my story is really to raise awareness and donations to support MBC research and find a cure and better treatments. And with my whole army I know we can do it.

Hannah Earle

When Hannah Earle was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 she had a vague idea of what each stage and grade meant. Throughout her Stage I treatment she learned that about 1 in 3 early stagers will reoccur to a late stage diagnosis, but she couldn’t fathom that would be her. She had a small aggressive tumor that she would treat aggressively and with a curative intent. About 2 years after her first diagnosis Hannah was re-diagnosed with MBC. What she didn’t know then is that breast cancer doesn’t care if you do all of the “right things” - it was (un)luck of the draw. She lives in the Seacoast of NH with her two children and husband. You can learn more about Hannah’s experience on her blog at: hannahincancerland.com

#LightUpMBC is an annual global landmark campaign that shines a light on the importance of awareness and funding for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Every state in the U.S. and countries around the world illuminate landmarks in the symbolic MBC awareness colors of teal, green and pink on October 13th for Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day.

A virtual broadcast, #LightUpMBC Live, will take place on October 13, 2023 at 8:30 PM ET/ 5:30 PM PT and will feature inspiring stories told by MBC patients at illuminated landmarks and include celebrity guests sharing words of inspiration. The show will be live streamed through LiveOne and viewable on all METAvivor channels including Facebook Live and YouTube @METAvivor and at www.METAvivor.org/LightUpMBC

Contact admin@mys4m.com prior to registering!

Please, if you can, further show your support of the Metastatic Breast Cancer community by wearing the MBC awareness ribbon colors of green, teal, and pink.

You may not know that the instantly recognizable pink ribbon is closely associated with early detection and celebrating survivors—but there’s no surviving or “beating” MBC, just buying time via treatment. Thus, a tricolor ribbon of green, teal, and pink for metastatic breast cancer aims to raise awareness for the need to direct funding toward the development of life-extending treatments. In it, green represents the triumph of spring over winter, life over death; teal symbolizes healing and spirituality; and a thin pink-ribbon overlay signifies metastatic cancer that originated in the breast.

PRIZES will be given! A $100 Amazon gift card will be given to the best dressed, and a $50 Amazon gift card to the most creative outfit.