My Aunt
Thursday, September 1, 2011
By: Stacie Currey

My aunt, Joan LaCasse Brannan, was only 43 years old when she lost her courageous fight with breast cancer. She left behind her husband and two young children, devoted family and friends, and also her amazing legacy to find a cure.

Not everyone leaves a legacy behind when they are gone, but Joan did. Joan was determined to beat this horrific disease, and fought it to the end. She used her strength, sense of humor, family and friends to help her throughout her 5 year battle with breast cancer. Joan was also an active fundraiser; she raised over $100,000 to help find a cure. Seeing her persistence and determination was inspiring to me. She was a devoted mother to her kids, and throughout it all, she was always putting them first. She was a role model to me, her amazing love for her family and balancing her reality of work, chemo and radiation with their world of just being children seemed simple to her. She never complained. Four years ago, as Joan was fighting this disease, I called and asked if she would mind if I started a team in the Race for the Cure MD. She told me, that would be great, but that I had to choose a great team name. No pressure! With much thought, and Joan in my heart, I came up with: Believe in a Breakthrough! It says it all. Joan believed in finding a cure, in reaching a breakthrough, and so do I. This is the 1st year our team will be participating in the Marathon for the Cure, and I am so excited to expand to another event for Susan G. Komen for the Cure! I will be running the Half Marathon for the cure in Joan's memory. If Joan could participate in the 3 day breast cancer walk with blistering feet as a result of chemo, this is something I absolutely have to do for her, there is no comparison! This will also be our fourth year in the SGK Race for the Cure MD, and we will never stop Joan's fight, her legacy. This is our 2nd year as a team without her at the race. We are inspired to help in finding a cure, for Joan's daughter's sake, and for every mom, sister, aunt, mother, grandmother, cousin, and wife... for EVERY woman, we cannot stop. We will not stop. Team Believe in a Breakthrough has an amazing team of followers and fundraisers every year. They are Joan's family and friends, and each year we add new friends to our fight. Without the help of each and every one of them, our efforts would never be possible. Our team is the reason we are able to carry on Joan's legacy. Together, we make it possible to Believe in a Breakthrough!

We miss you Joan, your legacy will forever live on!