This May our community came together to recognize and celebrate special mom figures in our lives that are breast cancer survivors, thrivers and fighters. From moms, grandmoms, aunts, pet moms, honorary moms and bonus moms, we loved seeing what these women mean to so many of our supporters and community.
We are also sending our support for those missing their moms during this season. Go Jen Go is holding space for the longing, the celebrating, and the remembering that comes with Mother’s Day and this time of year. We are thinking of our grantees we support, our grantees we have lost this past year, and their families.
Meet the amazing women that were nominated this year for their strength, love and impact they have on the people in their lives.
Shakira was nominated by her proud mom, Christine. She is the definition of strength and resilience. Now facing her third cancer diagnosis- Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer – she continues to fight with unwavering faith and determination.
Through each battle she worked, studied and earned degrees. She is continuing to pursue her doctorate to show her youngest daughter what is possible through hope and perseverance.
Susan was nominated by her daughter, Chloe. “My mom adopted me at just three days old in 2008. She has been bravely fighting breast cancer since 2021. I love her with all my heart,” says Chole. Susan is strong, selfless and full of love.
Sandy Ann, was nominated by two friends who shared how Sandy Ann is a thriver whose smile lights up every room. “To know her is to know her absolute adoration for her daughter Lily. Thriving with stage four metastatic cancer can be all consuming. And yet her priority remains to be sure Lily thrives.” She shows up at the park, the museum, and everywhere life and laughter can be found, while navigating breast cancer.
Torrie is a breast cancer thriver, sister and mom of two boys who was nominated by her sister Tina. Torrie was diagnosed at 42 after Tina- who was diagnosed at 52 – shared her genetic testing results with her sister. “We both lost our mom to breast cancer, and now we walk our own journeys together,” says Tina.
Josetta is a breast cancer survivor and mom to 4 children. She is known for always there for her kids, being kind and being loyal. She reminds others that breast cancer doesn’t define her, that she is fighting and trusting Go and her doctors.
Jenny is a breast cancer thriver, nominated by her dear friend, Maggie, a fellow breast cancer thriver. Maggie shared, “Jenny’s kids Charley and Adam are her whole heart. Despite the challenges of living with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, she is a mom first. And she’s crushing it!”
Jan is a breast cancer and recent gynecologic cancer survivor, a wife, mom, sister, aunt and grandma, who was nominated by her niece Jessie. She lives with a servant heart and has trusted in God in both of her fights against cancer. She is in remission from her recent cancer journey. Aunt Jan is special to Jessie because she reminds me so much of my mom that passed away from cancer when I was in high school. Her humor, laugh, and smile make me feel like my mom is in front of me through someone else. And the fact they both have the same name is something special. And she is so proud of Jan for rocking her new hair growing back after chemotherapy that is curly and a beautiful gray/white. Showing us strength and beauty; plus reminding us to love ourselves through the tough times and changes we may not have chosen.
Annika is a breast cancer survivor and past grantee, who just recently was diagnosed with a recurrence. She was nominated by her dear friend, Shawna. She is the amazing mom of six children. She is hardworking, loving, and her children are everything to her. She often does things for them before herself and has mostly been a single mom for much of their lives.
Cindy is a caregiver who walked alongside her daughter during her breast cancer journey and was nominated by her son-in-law Park. She is the proud mother to Tricia, Jon and Scott. When Tricia was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, the news shook her mother in a way only a mother can feel. She quickly rallied behind her daughter and was there literally every step of the way, both emotionally but also physically through surgeries, recoveries, radiation, and was there to see Tricia ring the bell. As Park shared, “Our moms are our rocks, and Cindy Fitzgerald personifies what it means to me a mom. Happy Mother’s Day!”
Meagan is a wonderful mom to her daughter, three bonus children, four fur children, and four grandchildren. She has lived the breast cancer fight with her own mother who has faced it multiple times and then found out she, herself, had breast cancer in her early forties. She survived breast cancer and has been cancer free for the last eight years. Meagan works very hard at a high stress job to make life great for her family and would do anything for them and her friends. She recently surprised her dear friend Shawna, who nominated her, by coming to Charlotte from DC to support an event close to my heart, Go Jen Go’s Run Jen Run!
Faye is a breast cancer survivor who was nominated by her friend Maggie. Faye chooses to be a ray of sunshine despite the cruel hand she has been dealt. Her beautiful daughter Toya was taken by metastatic breast cancer. Faye now raises Toya’s spunky and sweet daughter. She carries grief and joy hand in hand with a love that is too great for words. She is truly remarkable.
Stephanie is a breast cancer survivor. #StephStrong was the name for Stephanie’s supporters used during her battle with breast cancer. That phrase continues today as it embodies who Stephanie is – a survivor, mother, executive and loyal friend to so many. To meet Steph is to know her immediately, she is quick to share her breast cancer journey as it may help others find the right resources faster. We at Go Jen Go are so grateful she is part of our circle and she will always be our BBQSanta! #ifykyk
Maggie is always a bright light in any room she walks into. A positive thriver since 2021🩵💗💚 , her outlook on life is contagious and inspiring! She serves on the board of The Pink Bow Campaign and is also a champion for The Metastatic Breast Cancer Travelers and is a Mom of two amazing kids!
As we celebrate and honor these amazing women, we also honor our co-founder Jen Pagani, who was a wife, mom, daughter, aunt, dog-mom and fought breast cancer with grit, determination and strength. In her own words from her CaringBridge entry on February 29, 2012, “I’ve been living the soccer-mom dream this week! On Monday, Rocco had his first practice of the season, and last night was Luca’s very first practice, of any kind, ever. He loved it – pure boy bliss. Daddy and Rocco played soccer and football on a field nearby, and I sat, watched and chatted. It was heaven! It was the actualization of a milestone I had dreamt of for years and one I thought I might not get to see. Thank you, God. Thank you for answering that simple, beautiful, perfect prayer.” Jen lived with gratitude, love, and an unwavering mission to support others facing breast cancer.
Want to help support breast cancer patients like Erin? Make a donation to support our Patient Assistance Program or become a Jen’s Legacy monthly donor.