My name is Claudia Sarbieski from Crown Point, Indiana.  In July of 2018, I became a statistic –  the one of eight women who develop breast cancer in their lifetime (ACS, 2023).  I had just turned 50 and found myself with the prospect of how to tell my beloved husband of 27 years, and our four children, that I had been diagnosed with cancer.

I had worked in a dental office for over 20 years, at the time, my husband and I truly believed we had the world by the tail.  Our oldest son had completed a job in California and had moved back to Chicago and our daughter had just moved back home from Indianapolis.  Our youngest boys were entering their junior and senior year of high school.

The speed in which contact was made with the oncologist and surgeons, to this day makes my head spin.  I will never forget the oncologist asking how far I was willing to go.  My response was “I want to attend my children’s graduations, weddings, and I want to hold our future grandchildren, you do what you have to make that happen.”

Two weeks after my diagnosis, I needed to take some control back, control that I felt I had lost because of the cancer diagnosis.  I found the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer through a google search.  We started our team, Walking Warriors, and have walked proudly for Chicago Strides for Life since that time.

Every year, we add new names to our shirts of warriors fighting and warriors lost.  Every year I walk with the HOPE that this will be the year, we walk, raise funds, AND find the cure.

Now five years post diagnosis, I have not been released by my doctors; I am still receiving treatment.   I have gone back to school to earn a degree in psychology to help cancer patients and their families.  But I have another purpose, a mission, to help find the cure!