Chicagoland Be A Hero Fun Run

METAvivor is dedicated to the specific fight of women and men living with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. At the time of METAvivor’s founding, no organization was dedicated to funding research for the disease and no patient groups were speaking out about the dearth of stage 4 cancer research. While more and more people have taken up the cry for more stage 4 research, METAvivor remains the sole US organization dedicated to awarding annual stage 4 breast cancer research.

METAvivor exists to sustain hope for those living with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We are a volunteer-led, non-profit organization that funds vital research to help improve the longevity and quality of life for MBC patients. Passionately committed patients ourselves, we rally public attention to the urgent needs of the MBC community, help patients find strength through support and purpose, and make every dollar count as we work with researchers to extend and improve the quality of life for MBC patients.

Unless otherwise specified by the donor, 100% of every donation and 100% of proceeds from every fundraiser (after-event expenses) go into our research grants.

April Courtright

My name is April Courtright. I have been raising funds for MBC research through METAvivor for 4 years. I am a wife, sister, and daughter. And most importantly,I am a mother to my 9-year-old son. I was diagnosed with Her 2+ Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer at the end of 2019 at the age of 33 shortly before my 34th birthday. I was also diagnosed de novo, which means I was diagnosed with Stage IV from the start and did not discover my cancer previously at an earlier stage. We discovered cancer had spread to much of my spine, pelvis, hip, leg, and ovaries. I underwent chemo and targeted therapies, but unfortunately, those treatments stopped working for me in September 2021. We then were shocked to discover many lesions in my brain. I had whole brain radiation and I am now on more intense chemo. And truthfully cancer has made life tough for my small family. I have been living with breast cancer in my brain now for 3 years this October.

There is no cure for metastatic breast cancer. I will keep on my treatment until it stops working, and then move on to another therapy until there are no treatments left available. I was stunned to learn less than 5% of all funding from pink ribbon campaigns goes towards metastatic breast cancer research. The median life expectancy for someone diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer is 2-3 years, and our 5-year survival rate is low. And shockingly those numbers have not changed in an impactful way over the last few decades, and stories like mine are becoming the norm. I want to be here and be the mom my son will need.

Our MBC community is in desperate need of research. Research is how we live!

Lisa Mayer

My name is Lisa Mayer and I HAVE metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

In June of 2016, I went to my primary doctor because I had a cough that wouldn't go away. In August of 2016, I had a mammogram that was completely normal. In September, I saw a lung doctor who treated me for a viral infection and when I pointed out to him that my lymph nodes by my collar bone were hard and didn't move. He immediately referred me to a surgeon who removed one of them a few weeks later.

My life would change forever on October 20, 2016.

I was told that I had metastatic breast cancer. A cancer that has no cure and the average life span is 3 years. The cancer had spread from my right breast to both lungs, stomach, spine and many lymph nodes.

For the last 7 years I have been with no evidence of disease. Stage 4 has no cure. I will be in treatment for the rest of my life.

It will be 8 years in October that I have been fighting to live, watching my friends die around me and praying this doesn't happen to my children and relatives. THIS is why I am fundraising for METAvivor. We need a cure now. We need money for research because 30% of early stage breast cancers will progress to stage 4.

I have been an advocate for the last 3 years and I tell my story to everyone that will listen. So many people haven't heard of MBC or stage 4 breast cancer; I was one of those people almost 8 years ago. Please help me raise money to help educate and find a cure for metastatic breast cancer. Thank you.