2022 Fund of Hope Honorees

Help Us Fund the Future by Investing in Vital Cancer Research

For our 2022 Fund of Hope, our focus is on four types of cancer which affect women: breast, cervical, ovarian, and uterine. At the Ball, survivors and family members will share their powerful stories of determination and hope. Our colors are pink, peach, and teal in honor of the pink ribbon for breast cancer, the peach ribbon for uterine cancer, and the teal ribbon for both cervical and ovarian cancers.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, except for skin cancers, and also affects men. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Cervical cancer is also a common cancer in women, and HPV is its #1 cause. Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Uterine cancer is most common cancer of the female reproductive system. However, there is hope.

Since 1989, the cancer death rate from breast cancer has declined by 40%, and for all cancers by 32% since 1991, resulting in more than 3.5 million fewer cancer deaths. Innovations such as the mammogram and the HPV vaccine save lives and have contributed to these declines. Research, early detection, and treatment is key. The 2022 Fund of Hope provides the American Cancer Society with research dollars to find more answers and better treatments.

Introducing our 2022 Fund of Hope Honorees:

TORI DUNCAN 

Tori moved from Wisconsin to Texas in March of 2011 when her husband was transferred to the Veterans Affairs in Waco, Texas.  Her boys were 16 and 14.

Suddenly, Tori started not feeling well.  She was having headaches and then began having terrible menstrual cycles, for weeks at a time.  She was only 39 years old.  She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and underwent surgery and six rounds of chemotherapy.  Exactly ten years to the day of her ovarian cancer diagnosis, Tori was diagnosed with DCIS Stage 0 Breast Cancer. She had a baseball size mass in both breasts.  Tori had a double mastectomy and then three additional surgeries due to an infection.  Tori is still working on getting her strength and confidence back, but otherwise she now feels wonderful.

MEGHAN URWIN

As a three-time cancer survivor, Meghan enjoys the little things in life.  Having cervical cancer twice, and skin cancer once, parts of her life were stolen and she was unable to enjoy life to the fullest.  She is now a grandmother to two of the most handsome little boys and is reliving parts of her life she missed. 

Meghan is going back to school to pursue her second Bachelor’s degree in healthcare and plans to use her knowledge to help those less fortunate.  She truly feels without the help and support of her friends and family, her journey would have had a much different outcome.  It is through her cancer journey that many of those friends have become family by choice.