ABOUT SARA O’Neill

My story: Breast cancer runs in both my family and my husband’s family. We’ve both seen our loved ones fight battles they shouldn’t have to, and some of our loved ones have lost their lives to those battles. With breast cancer being so prevalent in both of our families, I wanted to be proactive with my own breast health despite being younger than the “normal age” for screenings. While I wasn't surprised, I struggled with the knowledge that I have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Throughout the past two years, I have started to flip my narrative from one of anxiety and stress to one of hope and strength, "I can detect it early and I can do whatever it takes to prevent it."

So far, in the two years since I learned that I have a higher risk of developing breast cancer in my life, I have had two mammograms, two MRIs, and one ovarian cancer screening. I will continue to have at least three screenings every year and I am working with my medical team to put together my timeline for a longer-term prevention plan. Every time I undergo a screening or think about the preventative action I am undergoing I am full of anxiety, but also full of hope. I am hopeful for the future of my health, and the future of the health of everyone else like me with a higher risk of developing breast cancer. I am hopeful that one day there will be a vaccine, or a cure, to fight and/or prevent breast cancer and secondary breast cancer. I am incredibly lucky to have preventative tools at my fingertips and I want to do my part to make sure that EVERYONE, no matter their family history or risk assessment, have the same preventative tools as me. In the United States, it can be cost prohibitive to prevent, detect, and treat breast cancer and I want to change that. I want to be the reason someone owns their breast cancer screenings and I want to be the reason someone decides to undergo a risk assessment tool. Lastly, I want to do my part to prevent and cure breast cancer in my lifetime which is why I’m taking on the challenge of my 3rd marathon, 2nd in London, and running for Against Breast Cancer. 

A link with more information about my story can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/scooprunslondon2

About ABC

About Against Breast Cancer (ABC): ABC is a British organization and was founded in 1993, and has been playing a pivotal role in secondary spread research ever since. ABC funds research projects costing over $4.5 million to prevent secondary spread (when breast cancer spreads from the breast to other parts of the body - it’s also stage 4 breast cancer), increase survival ratings when a secondary spread diagnosis is made, and work towards a vaccine to prevent secondary spread. ABC has a Fellowship Programme to support and develop young scientists in their work. ABC's founder, Dr. Anthony Leathem, stood outside of a London Tube Station rattling a tin to collect donations to fund his own research in the early days of the organization because he started ABC with no funding. He and his wife, Patricia, also used their own savings funds to start the organization. Additionally, Patricia wrote to schools, chambers of commerce, and women's organizations to ask for funding and she also enlisted her friends to help her with collection days. They made their own fundraising materials to support their work. Dr. Leathem was a pathologist before creating ABC and his wife was a breast cancer nurse. Dr. Leathem continued his research until 2009 when he retired. Dr. Leathem’s "main achievements included identifying a chemical difference between aggressive and non-aggressive breast cancer cells and playing a pivotal role in the charity’s DietCompLyf study into the diet and lifestyle of breast cancer patients” (ABC website). 

To learn more about ABC visit: https://www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk

How donations are used: I’ve attached a document, but this is a quicker breakdown

-5 GBP ($6.23) - could help fund research to enable personalized treatment and care, major factors in improving patient outcomes.

-10 GBP ($12.46) - could support research into how diet and lifestyle may increase or decrease the risk of secondary breast cancer developing. 

-15 GBP ($18.69) - Buys a sterile flask and the liquids needed to grow human breast cancer cells in the laboratory to test new treatments.

-50 GBP ($62.31) - Could pay for the assessment of the properties of an anti-breast cancer antibody, to help scientists determine if it could be useful in new treatments or to help the design of the vaccine.

About LAC

Liverpool Art Center is an arts and wellness community center offering a full calendar of inspiring opportunities: painting/drawing classes, ongoing art classes for adult, teens, family studio, drum classes and drum circles as well as Creative Self Care and Traveling Arts Programs for Hire.

The lakeside art center offers a relaxing environment for creative expression. There are 2 studios under on roof with an additional meditation room and a Virtual Broadcasting Studio.

2009 began our Creative Cafe’ classes (Paint Along Classes) which  were  very popular with families and friends looking to experience some fun, healthy activities together. Because our instructors are professional full-time teaching artists, LAC offered the only social painting class that offers guests an option to paint any image from our 30+ options. The class design maintained the the LAC teaching philosophies that encourage individualism and freedom of expression.

Read more about Liverpool Art Center and the host of this event, Sandra Sabene:

https://www.artsandhealing.com/our-story