Each year 41,000 women die of breast cancer. It's why KVUE partners with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Austin Chapter to Race for a Cure. As we lead up to this year's race on November 1, we're introducing you to the people whose lives have been changed by breast cancer.
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KVUE's Terri Gruca reports
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Julia Wood and Jennifer Steffek rely on pictures to remind them of some of their most memorable moments with their moms. But those pictures also remind them of some of the more painful ones too.
"I found out my mom had breast cancer two weeks before I graduated from UT," said Wood.
Steffek was just 16-years-old when her mom was first diagnosed.
"It really caught me off guard," she said.
Their moms were young, and neither had a history of breast cancer in their families.
"It was really hard," said Wood.
Wood's mom fought cancer for five years; Steffek's mom fought on and off for 14 years.
"She was a fighter; she was such a strong woman, and she taught us so much," she recalled.
Eventually both young women lost their moms to breast cancer. Yet it is also how they found their calling.
"You need that community to get through it," said Wood.
Shortly after losing her mother, Wood and her brothers joined the Race for the Cure.
"We came up with this slogan, 'In mammary of mom,' and so we thought we'll get together a team. We knew our friends would donate because it had been so soon after our mom had died," recalled Wood.
Little did they know how much it would mean to be surrounded by others who understood what they were going through.
"I think that's kind of what the Komen Foundation also provides is that sense of community -- that you're not alone in fighting this disease. You're not alone in having lost someone to this disease," said Wood.
A friend introduced Steffek to Wood just as Steffek's mother was going through her third breast cancer diagnosis.
"It was so good to know Julia right after this happened because she went through it," she said. "I don't have any friends who had lost a parent especially to breast cancer."
Since 2006, the "In mammary of mom" team has grown, and so has its fundraising efforts. Last year the group raised more than $7,000.
"We've always said if they can find a cure and there's another family that doesn't have to go through what we've gone through, then we've done all that we can do," said Wood.
So once again this year they're raising money to race.
"It gives me something to look forward to, something to work for, a way to spread awareness of it and hope to find a cure," said Steffek.
"Our big thing is early detection is the best protection," said Wood. "We kind of take the tongue and cheek approach. We often say 'Grope them if you got 'em'", said Wood.
That message is particularly important to Wood. Her mom didn't go to the doctor as soon as she found a lump.
"If my mom had just gone in when she first noticed it she probably, she may still be here," said Wood.
These young women have made their loss their motivation.
"We're not really racing for a cure for our own family," said Wood.
They miss their mom's. Yet when you see what they've accomplished, you can't help but think they're mom's are right here helping them race for a cure.
"I know they're proud of us," said Steffek.
This year's takes place Sunday, November 1 at the Domain. If you'd like to join us you can .
