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Lucille lost her mother to Gastric Stomach cancer at age 4. She said, “it has been the hardest thing I had to learn to live with; a piece of my identity, my role model missing from my life.”

Nathaniel’s father was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer, and passed away a year later when Nathaniel was 11 years old. Nathaniel quickly learned how life continued moving forward while he was falling considerably behind. Being out of school for three weeks, and having to move into temporary housing shortly thereafter, left this sixth grader struggling. However, 2 years later, Nathaniel was achieving straight A’s and high honors.

Runway for Recovery provides families with a continuum of support along their journey with breast cancer. We create community by hosting events and providing services that create joy and inspire hope. With shared understanding we celebrate survivors, honor legacies, and fund families who have experienced loss.

Alice’s journey toward a career in oncology has been deeply personal. During her freshman year, her father was diagnosed with cancer, which left her determined to contribute to the fight against cancer. She immersed herself in a summer medical program, at Tufts where she conducted lab tests, worked with real data, and explored the field of health sciences—realizing her desire to become a doctor.

Michael’s mother’s ovarian cancer diagnosis upended his family’s world. As his mother’s health declined, he witnessed her resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. In the wake of her passing, Michael was inspired to adopt her mindset in his own life, to honor his mom’s legacy. Michael says, “his mom’s memory serves as a guiding light to never lose sight of what truly mattered: love, family and faith. Her spirit guides him each day in gratitude, resilience, and a commitment to make a difference.

When she first heard her mother had breast cancer in 2022, Giselle felt overwhelmed as she became her mom’s primary support system for two years, accompanying her to every medical appointment as a translator and source of comfort.

The Donald Perlman, MD Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Dr. Perlman by his wife Cynthia Perlman and family. The $5,000 scholarship was awarded in 2024 to Kaitlyn Pugh, a high school student from Saugus High School. She plans on attending Endicott College.

During her junior year, Giuliana’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer—a life-changing event that reaffirmed her passion for medicine. At the time, she was already volunteering weekly at Beth Israel Lahey Outpatient Center, assisting nurses in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit. This personal experience deepened her commitment to oncology, leading her to complete 60 hours as a Radiation Oncology Intern in Peabody. She now aspires to become a Radiation Oncologist.

Last year, in Ryan’s second semester of junior year, he was diagnosed with cancer, requiring surgery and chemotherapy. Weightlifting was usually his coping mechanism, but he was unable to continue with weightlifting due to side effects from the chemotherapy. Undeterred, Ryan says, “regarding cancer’s impact on my future goals, it has only fueled my ambitions.”