About the project
FearLESS, a new initiative of the #ThisIsMBC campaign, showcases a diverse group of 10 participants with an MBC diagnosis who are living FearLESSly through friendship, community and living life each day with meaning. The project features stunning, colorful images set against desert backdrop and video content to evoke emotion and promote open dialogue, public awareness, understanding, and acceptance of MBC.
To make a donation to MBC research and support those living with MBC, please visit METAvivor contributions and fill out a form. Each participant who donates $20 or more can receive a complimentary #ThisIsMBC fearLESS phone sling.
MEET THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE #THISISMBC fearLESS PROJECT
MEET MICHELLE
Michelle
50 years old
Texas
Michelle is a 50-year-old who is devoted to her children and grandchildren. She loves music, dance, car racing, and adventure. Michelle was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) de novo; she’d had no prior diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer and didn’t know what MBC was. She had just changed jobs and was without insurance when the diagnosis was made—and her world was turned upside down. Because of those experiences, she wants to share her story to encourage and advocate for others facing similar situations, as well as educate the wider community about MBC. “FearLESS to me is finding the joy in the darkness. Being that shining light and showing others in our situation that it is scary and it’s a dark world, but we can make it brighter. We can thrive, and we can do this together.”
Learn more about Michelle here.
MEET ROBIN
Robin
43 years old
Georgia
Robin is a 43-year-old who has worked with children with special needs and children in foster care, and lives with her son. She loves the ocean and enjoys interior design and fashion. Robin’s empathetic and giving nature enables her to support and encourage others, but since being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), she’s taking more time to focus on her own needs as well — at a point in her life when she was ready to make a fresh start. The diagnosis came as a shock and was devastating. But, determined to get back up, Robin has found the strength to take time for herself and achieve some of her life goals. “The things that keep me going are just my resilience. I’ve never given up. So I’m like, I can make it through this.”
Learn more about Robin here.
MEET SHEILA
Sheila
50 years old
Puerto Rico
Sheila is a 50-year-old from Puerto Rico who works as a project manager and is devoted to her husband and two grown children. She loves reading, spending time with friends, being outdoors, and volunteering her time and talents to give back to others. Having been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), Sheila had to learn a lot and now wants to help educate the wider community about MBC and what it means for those who are living with it. When she was first diagnosed, Sheila hadn’t yet sought out other people with MBC. But once she did, she found that it made a real difference to her well-being to be able to share experiences with others who truly understand and to talk about difficult topics openly and honestly. “It’s just a great community to have.”
Learn more about Sheila here.
MEET EARLENE
Earlene
56 years old
Nevada
Earlene is a cheerful 56-year-old who loves singing, meeting people, traveling, and gaining new experiences. Since being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), she is as determined as ever to relish life and all the joy it can bring, and to help others do the same. For Earlene, moving forward and living fearLESS with MBC was a simple decision. While acknowledging that there are hard times, she focuses on the joys and the blessings that she finds in life each day. "I’ll take every day one day at a time and live it to the fullest."
Learn more about Earlene here.
MEET CAROLINE
Caroline
57 years old
Pennsylvania
Caroline is a former oncology nurse who lives in Philadelphia with her family. Unfortunately, because of the impact metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has had on her health, Caroline had to give up her career in nursing that she loved. But her compassion carries over into caring for others in her community and using her voice to advocate for people living with MBC. "what brings me the most joy is helping other people. So I'm hoping that this project can be helpful to other people. And I feel that as an oncology nurse with MBC, I may have a unique way of helping my local women."
Learn more about Caroline here.