#WhyIPMC guest blog by Jennifer Leitner, 32-year Living Proof volunteer
My uncle, Harvey Sklar, started riding in the PMC in 1989 for my grandmother who passed away from complications with ovarian cancer. I was only 4 years old that year, so I couldn’t volunteer. My parents volunteered the year after, and I remember playing with my brother while watching my parents running around getting food and drinks ready for the riders.
I have volunteered every year since the first year I was allowed, which has been most of my life. Since we became involved with the PMC, my other three grandparents had been diagnosed with some form of cancer, my maternal grandfather passed away from colon cancer, my maternal grandmother had breast cancer and my paternal grandfather had prostate cancer. I was volunteering for all my grandparents.
However, on October 27th 2015, I started to volunteer for myself as two days before my son’s 1st birthday, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a very bittersweet time, trying to celebrate my son turning one while dealing with my diagnosis. It was a very long year as I had gone through a double mastectomy and multiple reconstructive surgeries.
I am lucky to say that I am cancer free and living proof and volunteer for myself as well as my grandparents and now multiple friends and family that have also been diagnosed since my own diagnosis. My sons are currently ages 4 and 8 and they are excited to be able to volunteer when they are of age to do so.
