Meet the runners who will be representing Expect Miracles Foundation and raising funds for our mission at the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon on November 1.
FOUNDATION SPONSOR
Carolyn C.
From Freelance to Diagnosis
Carolyn C., a 36-year-old freelance journalist, has seen cancer firsthand. She was in middle school when her mother Janine was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 45. About two decades later, in April 2023, Carolyn was faced with a breast cancer diagnosis of her own.
Carolyn was living in Athens, Georgia working as a successful freelance journalist when her life took an unexpected turn. She found a lump in her right breast and following her diagnosis, she began treatment two weeks later. It was then that the whirlwind began—Carolyn met with doctors and immediately started a rigorous chemotherapy regimen due to the aggressive nature of her cancer.
Because my mother had cancer at a young age, I knew I was at higher risk and needed consistent screening, but the COVID-19 Pandemic put me behind on my OBGYN visits. I noticed worrisome changes during this time frame, and my intuition told me that something was off.
Impact on Professional Life
As a freelance journalist, Carolyn had been managing her own business for a decade, writing primarily for medical news outlets like WebMD on the latest sciences and trends. Her cancer diagnosis had a profound impact on her work, with chemotherapy side effects forcing her to significantly reduce her workload, diminishing her income. Despite building a savings account throughout 2022, those savings had to be redirected to cover her treatment costs. Even with health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, Carolyn faced financial hardships.
The SAMFund Grant
Carolyn discovered that financial assistance resources were limited for her due to various guidelines based on the nature of her diagnosis, place of residence, and occupation. However, she was extremely resourceful and was able to piece together a support network for herself financially. She received assistance through Genentech Pharmaceutical Company, which helped her get discounts on HER–2 treatments, and she was also able to receive treatment at the University Cancer and Blood Center, a cancer center in Athens, Georgia. Among the resources that Carolyn patched together was EMF’s SAMFund. She discovered the grant through online research and applied.
One of the most beautiful things about SAMFund for me is that it helps people during survivorship. Most financial assistance is only available while you’re in treatment, so the SAMFund grant is unique in how it helps survivors.
Carolyn learned she received the grant while sitting at her desk across from her fiancé, Drew.
The SAMFund grant arrived at a pivotal moment in survivorship, where she was awarded the same month she was going back to work full-time. Despite the strong support system of her mother, fiancé, and close friend, treatment still takes a significant toll, and alleviating Carolyn’s financial stress through the SAMFund grant provided a crucial lifeline. This assistance not only helped cover essential expenses but also gave her the peace of mind needed to focus on her recovery and get back on her feet financially.
I received the grant notification around the same time I completed my final HER-2 immunotherapy treatment. It was an emotional and reflective time for me, and it felt incredibly significant to receive the grant when I did. It helped me look forward to a more hopeful summer.
Future Plans
Carolyn, now in remission, is optimistic about her future. She hopes to continue her work full-time, focusing on gastrointestinal-related news, with an emphasis on colorectal cancer, which is on the rise for young adults. Carolyn finds writing about cancer empowering and hopes her writing is helping people and reaching other subgroups of patients.
Carolyn also aims to build a personal brand committed to reliable journalism and plans to start a YouTube series. Her journey has inspired her to give back through meaningful media coverage of health and science topics.
EMF’s SAMFund grant gave Carolyn the financial stability and support she needed to recover from the setbacks caused by her cancer diagnosis and treatment.
The SAMFund grant helped me get back to doing the work I love to do! I get opportunities to tell stories, which are strongly informed by my personal experiences as a cancer survivor. This makes my work so meaningful.
As Carolyn continues to rebuild her professional life, she remains committed to her passion for journalism and helping others through her work. Her resilience and determination are evident as she moves forward, ready to tackle new challenges and opportunities.
About EMF’s SAMFund Grant Program
Due to the high costs associated with treatment and survivorship, young adults experience financial toxicity at a greater level than any other age group. SAMFund grants help to alleviate the financial burden resulting from cancer treatment. Thank you to donors for supporting EMF’s SAMFund Grant Program. Because of your generosity, we are helping young adult cancer survivors build bridges to help them get where they were intended to go before cancer disrupted their lives.
What SAMFund Grant Recipients Say
Make Miracles
Join us in the fight against cancer and be part of the community that is making miracles happen today. Your donation is an investment in our Research and Discovery Funds, which invests in life-saving cancer research, and EMF’s SAMFund, which provides financial assistance for young adult cancer survivors.
Get Involved
Every dollar we raise brings us closer to a world free from the grip of cancer. But we can’t do it alone. Join us in this life saving journey. No matter who you are, where you come from, you have a place at Expect Miracles Foundation. Cancer knows no boundaries, and neither does our mission. Stand alongside us in the fight against cancer.
Make Miracles
Join us in the fight against cancer and be part of the community that is making miracles happen today. Your donation is an investment in our Innovation and Discovery Funds, which invests in life-saving cancer research, and EMF’s SAMFund, which provides financial assistance for young adult cancer survivors.
Invest in Hope
Corporate sponsors lead our life-saving mission and gain access to influential business networking opportunities at EMF events, which range from galas to golf tournaments and more. As a sponsor you can cultivate relationships in the financial services industry while having a life-changing impact on the cancer community.