As my friends & family already know, in the past I have raised money to save pups & kitties lives! I am now raising money to help human lives, including my own!
On February 17th, 2025 I was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer.
On the 5th of February, at the age of 55, I had my 2nd colonoscopy. My first was at the age of 46 and was completely clear. They told me I was good for 10 years... only I wasn't. Eight and a half years later stage 3 cancer had grown.
Colorectal cancer is now the #1 killer of patients between the ages of 30-40. The industry standard of the age of 45 to get your first colonoscopy is too old! The industry standard of every 10 years is too long!!
Ryan & I researched the best colorectal hospitals in the state and in the Country, and Moffitt Cancer Center was on both of those lists.
I started treatment at Moffitt on April 10th, 2025. I completed 30 rounds of radiation combined with oral chemo, and then I completed 8 rounds of IV chemo, that ended on November 12th, 2025. My treatment plan was devised based around our desire to avoid surgery, since the surgery is very aggressive.
My treatment was the hardest thing in my life that I've ever had to muster through. I could not have done it without Ryan. I drew all of my strength from him!
On December 23rd, I was given a complete clinical response diagnosis and placed on the watch and wait program. That means the tumor is no longer there but they can't say the cancer is completely gone. I will have scans & scopes every 3 months for 5 years.
The statistics are: 20% - 30% of the time it returns, and 95% of that time it returns in the first 2 years.
Last year in October, in the midst of my treatment, I saw a post on the Moffitt Facebook page about their Miles for Moffitt. I thought to myself that if I was physically able to, in 2026, I wanted to sign up for that 5k.
So... here we are! I have registered Ryan & I to do the 2026 Miles for Moffitt 5k on November 21st!
I have set a goal to raise $5,000.
Last year they raised $1.69M!! And $1.3M of that $1.69M went to research! Moffitt is on the cutting edge of clinical trials & paving the way to finding a cure for cancer!
Your donation is tax deductible. Here is their EIN Number: (EIN) is 59-3238636
Will you help me to raise money to further the research to save lives...up to & including my own?
Thank you so much!! Tonya
