Runway for Recovery

Kelly Willwerth celebrates 9 years since her cancer diagnosis this year and while she knows 10 is usually the anniversary, after beating breast cancer, she knows there’s reason to celebrate every milestone.

Her story is up on our blog today: https://runwayforrecovery.org/meet-the-models-new-england-kelly-willwerth/

What an awesome morning with .nantucket rallying for Runway! Together we raised $2,100 and had an incredible morning by the water together.

A mom to two awesome teenagers, Sarah Wilfert’s story is one of constant strength and determination to continue on with life, even in the face of multiple breast cancer diagnoses and eventually, a metastatic one. Highlighted in our previous newsletter, Sarah passed in late July, but we wanted to honor her courage and vulnerability in sharing her story earlier this spring with our latest blog.

Our runway will always serve as a place for everyone’s story, even when they turn out to be what feels like horribly unfair. We remain dedicated to providing space on our runway so that children, like Sarah’s, have a space to honor her legacy and come October, we plan to dance in the spirit of grit, strength and love so embodied by Sarah.

https://runwayforrecovery.org/in-memory-of-new-england-model-sarah-wilfert/

Why we do what we do & why your generosity matters 💗

Deanna Potsis’ stage 4 metastatic breast cancer diagnosis came as a complete shock after finding a lump. With the help of her “Wolfpack” she quietly faced grueling treatment, but 7 years out she’s ready to speak publicly about her diagnosis and passion for incorporating products like medical cannabis into treatment routines:
“It has shown me that this doesn’t have to be a death sentence. I am trying to create a platform that also involves holistic practices.”

Deanna’s journey is up on our blog➡️ https://runwayforrecovery.org/meet-the-models-new-england-deanna-potsis/

An incredible weekend at The Barn rallying for Runway. Huge thanks to for the best class and to all of those who came/donated- we are at $12k and counting!

ALUMNI MODELS! We just opened up 9 more spots for this year’s New England show & you’ll get to be styled.

DM or email to grab your spot!

Deborah Williams is an iron woman who faced a stage four metastatic diagnosis along with a myriad of other challenges, including a shattered femur. Her positive attitude is summed up when she says “I cringe when people say- put up a good fight or battle. I am not at war or fighting with anyone. I am in conversation with my cancer.”

Her journey is up on our blog today: https://runwayforrecovery.org/meet-the-models-new-england-deborah-williams/

Christina Muratore has been cheering her sister, Katie on as she danced our runway these past couple years. This year, she’ll join her after a stage 1 diagnosis & double mastectomy this past spring.

Christina’s journey & her experience alongside her sister is up on our blog today: https://runwayforrecovery.org/meet-the-models-new-england-christina-muratore/

After beating stage 3 cancer, Karen Walsh went on to live seven years before the shocking news of recurrence and a stage 4 metastatic diagnosis. A single mom, she credits her incredible support system for navigating this new reality with her:

“That is the silver lining for myself, but mostly my boys. Watching them watch people show up for us in the way that they do is such a huge gift. I walk through this earth with a single breast and the one I do have is not small, it’s large, and some days I think this is so much for my children. Should I tone it down so they can tolerate it better? I have decided to live very much out loud, so they can participate in the amazing connections and community and love they get to be a part of.”

Karen’s beautiful introspection of her journey is up on our blog today: https://runwayforrecovery.org/meet-the-models-new-england-karen-walsh/

10 bikes left for our ride at The Barn. Don’t miss your chance to experience & sweat it out for a great cause. Grab your bike via the link in bio 💪🏻

As a teenager, Nicole Niccoli watched her mother battle breast cancer. It came as a blow when her mother had a recurrence & a stage 4 diagnosis in 2020. Shockingly, later that year, Nicole received her own diagnosis.

In 2022, Nicole’s mother passed & she herself was re-diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. It was a series of events that would break most, but Nicole is determined to live fully each day.

Her incredible story is up on our blog 👉🏻 https://runwayforrecovery.org/meet-the-models-new-england-nicole-niccoli/

At just 18, Lilly Beck lost her mother, Noreen, to breast cancer. It came after nearly a decade of fighting the disease- a battle Lilly witnessed with admiration.

Today, Lilly reflects on life since and how she aims to keep her mother’s legacy alive. Our latest blog👉🏻 https://runwayforrecovery.org/meet-the-models-new-england-lilly-beck/

Join us for bike, run, boot camp on Sunday August 18th. A portion of the proceeds benefit Runway and it will be full of amazing men and women from this community 💗

Details and registration: https://www.runreg.com/fit4acause-triple-challenge

Janis Kelly’s breast cancer diagnosis proved more difficult when treatment fell during peak COVID. Today she’s back to trips with her grandkids and strangely, feeling “better than I did before cancer.”

Janis’ journey is up on our blog: https://runwayforrecovery.org/meet-the-models-new-england-janis-kelly/

Nantucket - we’re rallying! Join us August 18th with .nantucket 🙌🏻 working out on the beach is always better….

Grab some friends and register: https://www.classy.org/event/rally-for-runway-forme-barre-fitness/e599355

A symptomless & utterly shocking stage four metastatic breast cancer diagnosis changed Marrianne Gruver’s reality, but it certainly didn’t dull her positivity: “I am never going to ring the bell after treatment, so I got a bell and I ring it for the best milestone of the day, which is waking up.”

Kicking off our 2024⭐️MEET THE MODELS⭐️ blog is Marrianne’s incredible journey:

https://runwayforrecovery.org/meet-the-models-new-england-marianne-gruver/

We are thrilled to announce that we have a very special model who will dance on our stage this October in The Runway Show, New England… Elin Hildebrand, who will have just completed her final book tour, will dance in the 18th annual Runway Show. Elin completed treatment for breast cancer in 2016, and we are honored that she has chosen to join our heroic group of models. Even more special is the way in which Elin weaves stories of those who have been impacted by breast cancer into almost all of her novels since her diagnosis.

Set your clocks for Monday, July 15th at 9 a.m. when our tickets go on sale so that you can join her for a private, VIP cocktail hour prior to the show (tickets are limited). 💃

East Coasters! Come rally with us at The Barn in the Hamptons 🚴🏼‍♀️

Bikes will go fast, so snag yours via the link in bio 💪🏻

Our Family Grants Application is open! Our summer cycle of funding has begun — families and patients who have had a guardian pass away from breast cancer or diagnosed with Stage IV, metastatic breast cancer may apply online. We accept applications from families and patients who live in New England, Orange & LA counties, California, and now, New York and New Jersey!

Application: https://runwayforrecovery.org/familygrants/

We are so excepted to welcome to our board of trustees:

Lily Beck
Dorothy Burnham
Rachael Asselin
Abby Gordon
Rebecca Muse-Orlinoff
Ingrid Tucker
Michelle Usitalo

We are so grateful for the willingness to dedicate their time and talents to help us grow to find more families 🤍

Our thanks will never be enough for the incredible leadership of these three departing board members. Forever a part of the fabric of Runway, we are so grateful for the time and efforts of Henry McNamara, Wick Sollers & Lindsay Boger 💗

Whether you danced with us at our Runway Show, New England or Southern California, sweat it out at a Rally event, shopped at a Love Local, donated to dear friend who modeled, or are looking forward to our growth in New York City in 2025, we are grateful for everyone who has helped back our 17th year at Runway such a huge success.

With three days left of our fiscal year, we are looking back at this year and know that there are so many moments to honor and celebrate. Simultaneously, the need for our funding continues to grow, and so work is far from over.

With your support we can finish the year strong. Link in bio/stories to donate 💗

NYC! Don’t miss your chance to dance our inaugural runway in your city 💃🏻 model nominations are still open.

https://runwayforrecovery.org/meet-the-models/

We are so grateful for the support of the foundation for their $10k grant to battle childhood hunger insecurity. Their grant gives us greater ability to provide support to our families 👏🏻

We are so grateful for the steadfast leadership of Randy Kennedy & Dr. Leslie Fang. As their time on the board comes to an end, we are sending all our thanks for their commitment to helping Runway grow.

We are so grateful for the support of the Ilene Beal Foundation and their generous $25k grant for our fiscal year 2024.

Their letter noted, “This is in recognition of all your hard work and impact, your enduring and impressive partnership with The Ellie Fund, and your continued efforts to keep us informed and engaged about your work.”

Cheers to you dads! Happy Father’s Day ❤️