Maureen Lovett

When Maureen Lovett learned that her sister Tricia had contracted cancer, she had no idea what to expect. "I knew to do monthly lump checks," she said, "but, like Tricia, I thought that no one in my family was a candidate." Before the news that Tricia had contracted breast cancer, they did not spend much time thinking about what sort of role cancer played in the world around them. When Tricia died of breast cancer in 2008 after a mastectomy, two chemotherapy sessions, and an experimental treatment through John Hopkins, Maureen's life changed. Not only was she heartbroken about the loss of her sister, but she was also shocked that the evils of cancer had found their way into her life. She immediately decided to take a stand. Ever since Tricia's death, Maureen has been raising money through the Avon breast cancer walks, which donates the money to research for the disease. "I've participated in 2 Avon walks to raise funds and contributed funding to other family members when they do the same. I expect to continue to do so in the future," Maureen says. Friends and neighbors each helped Maureen out in raising the money, and surprisingly, it seemed like each had been touched by breast cancer in some way during their lives. "Almost everyone I knew had a family member or close friend who had breast cancer, some survivors, many not," Maureen said. Maureen sees now more than ever that both men and women alike should be aware of the dangers that face them. "The risks and dangers of life in general, and how short life is, should alter the way all humans interact with their societies," she says, "Everyday is a gift, my sex has little to do with these unalterable truths."