Nicole Coyne thought the lump was a cyst. In 2024, in her forties, she got the news that it was breast cancer. Her reaction was honest and immediate: “He said breast cancer, and I was completely floored.” After a double mastectomy, she’s cancer-free, and she’s sharing her story during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to make sure other women don’t assume the best and delay the appointment.
Marianne Sturm took a different path to the same mission. Diagnosed in 2010, she made a promise to herself: “I just knew that I was going to be a fighter, and I was going to do whatever I could to make my life the best it could be.” Today she paddles alongside other survivors, building the kind of community that makes tough days easier.
Both stories lead to the same place this weekend. The Making Strides walk steps off Saturday at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, and it’s open to walkers, cheerleaders, and anyone who wants to stand with local survivors. Have you or someone you love been touched by breast cancer? We’d like to hear from you in the comments.
