By the time this newsletter goes out, October will be almost over. As with everything, there are positives (the Stage IV Stampede & Summit; the turning leaves and crispness in the air; and Light Up MBC) and negatives (pinkwashing companies that donate little or nothing to reputable organizations; performative campaigns from some organizations that infantilize women and totally exclude men; and the fact that MBC only gets 1 day of recognition in all of breast cancer awareness month).
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the Stampede. I have big ideas for next year, one of which involves another fantastic patient-led organization but we need to entice enough sponsors to add this full-day workshop to the Stampede and Summit. Sorry, I’m going to leave you hanging because we have to raise the money first!!
Besides just being with our community at the Stampede, giving and getting hugs, another highlight was the private screening of the documentary film IV: Our Lives. Crafted by Andrew Silver, a professor of English at Mercer College, from 150 interviews he did with people living with MBC and their loved ones, it is raw and powerful and heartbreaking and funny. Last week, I was at the Awareness Film Festival in Santa Monica, CA with Andy for the world premiere public showing, and Andy is hoping it will be accepted at other film festivals and that he can screen it around the country. METAvivor is planning a special virtual screening fundraiser, likely in December, so stay tuned for more details, but here is a trailer.
There are times when mere words are not enough, and the gratitude I have for Tami Bowling and the entire Light Up MBC team is one of those times: “thank you “ just isn’t enough. What started out with Laura Inahara lighting one bridge in one town to honor her friend, the late Jessica Moore , has turned into a global phenomenon and the biggest fundraiser benefitting METAvivor. As of the day I’m writing this, #LUMBC has raised $510,428.77!!!!! The goal is to raise $600,000 by year’s end – click here to donate. You can watch a recording of LUMBC 2026 on METAvivor’s YouTube channel.
After receiving 203 letters of intent for the 2026 grant cycle, and inviting 40 to submit full applications, we are finishing up the peer and patient review process. Next, our scientific advisory board will look over all the scores, discuss the most meritorious applications, and send their recommendations to the Board of Directors. What we can fund depends on how much money we raise this year, so please donate!
And if you have an extra good vibe to spare, send one my way: I have scans coming up!
Kelly