Susan G. Komen Florida recently announced its 2022 Ford Warriors in Pink. The survivors were chosen for their passion in defeating breast cancer and will serve as ambassadors for Komen, as well as the Komen More Than Pink Walk in West Palm Beach on Saturday, Jan. 29.
The 2022 Ford Warriors in Pink demonstrate that breast cancer can strike anyone, regardless of family history, age, ethnicity or race. They will carry their message of breast cancer awareness to their own communities and act collectively to build support for Komen’s 360-degree approach to the fight against breast cancer by taking action, focusing on research, connecting people to care and impacting communities in need.
Among the 2022 Warrior in Pink is 36-year-old Sara Duff of Loxahatchee. She is a human resources manager for Buckeye Plumbing. She was born and raised in Loxahatchee, where she still resides with her husband of 14 years and two children, ages 11 and 6. When she isn’t working, Duff loves spending time with her family, traveling, boating and playing volleyball with her daughter.
“Being a warrior for me means that for this time and place, my small story, this time of trauma, confusion and unknown, can be celebrated for the difficult time it has been,” Duff said. “The warrior-like qualities are bigger than all the sad parts to this journey, and showing others that toughness can give them hope, that they can bring those same qualities to those in their life battling, or for themselves one day, if they ever have to go down this road.”
Duff is thankful for the support of her family and her faith during her difficult journey.
“[That includes] the faith that was instilled in me by my parents that this can’t be the end, but just a part of my life,” she said. “The hope that I could be the woman that they could say walked the walk and talked the talk. When things got tough, she didn’t give up.”
Duff has some advice to offer those recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
“Feel the feelings, all of them, and don’t be sorry if that makes people uncomfortable,” she said. “There were times early in my diagnosis when you just feel like you can’t be here, this didn’t happen and then you’re angry. ‘Why me? What did I do wrong?’ Family and friends might be around trying to be supportive, but… you are beat up and need some time to be sad, you just need time to allow your mind and heart to get around this life-changing diagnosis.”
The other 2022 Komen Florida Ford Warriors in Pink are: Sherri Boyce of Jupiter, Sharon Perry of Jupiter, Kelly Stephens of Boynton Beach, Danette Volmy of West Palm Beach and the late Chakela Montgomery of West Palm Beach.
“The personal triumphs these six women have realized on their breast cancer journeys is nothing short of amazing,” said Tia Isoff-Celestin, development director at Susan G. Komen Florida. “As warriors, they are accomplishing in their own communities what Komen strives to do all across world.”
Susan G. Komen is the world’s leading nonprofit breast cancer organization, working to save lives and end breast cancer forever. For more info., visit www.komen.org.
Powerful reflections from an incredible woman. Thank you for sharing Sara! We’ll be sharing this article with others for encouragement, inspiration and hope.