Three generous donors have chosen the newest level of support for the 2019 Challenge of the Americas, the Pink Patrons.

Oak Meadows Farm

Cece Stewart of Oak Meadows Farm is a faithful COTA supporter who, not only believes in the cause, but has a special reason to support the Challenge. “I do this in honor of my sister, Lee Waite, who is a breast cancer survivor,” Cece said. “She has been cancer-free for 15 years. She is an amazing lady with a huge heart and great courage. Her life goal has been to serve others as a nurse for 30 years and she is currently an ICU nurse at Carolinas Medical in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is simply a great role model and inspiration. Together, with the support of one another and through events like the Challenge of Americas, we are helping to fight for the cure. Many heartfelt thanks to everyone who is sponsoring, organizing, performing, or volunteering for this great event.”

Lark’s Home Run

Lark’s Home Run (aka Homer) and his human, Elizabeth (aka Beth) Stauber-Johnson, also chose to support the 2019 Challenge as a Pink Patron because of special people in their lives taken by breast cancer. Beth’s mother and her husband Ron’s mother died from complications of the disease.“It is not a lesson in intelligence when confronted by the insidious, wicked and vile killer,” Beth said. “The only hope is to focus on the raw fight to beat it, which is becoming more and more successful through the research COTA supports. In thinking emotionally about watching my Mom’s war with it, a rather well-known quote from Marilyn Monroe comes to mind, one that actually my Mom wore on her chest, if not literally, surely subliminally. It is, ‘Sometimes you just have to throw on a crown and remind them who they are dealing with.’ God bless all who fought and are no longer able, and all those who fought and have survived. Ten years later, and forever, I will always be proud of my Mom never giving up. Never, never.”

Florida Atlantic University

“The Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University is nationally recognized for its innovative curricular and research programs that emphasize high touch-high tech training experiences to produce the next generation of clinical and research leaders,” said Dr. Janet Robishaw, the Senior Associate Dean for Research, and Chair and Professor of Biomedical Science at FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine. “In particular, our faculty are working to identify how genetics and lifestyle factors affect the risk of developing breast cancer with the ultimate goal of preventing the disease. We are proud to sponsor the Challenge of the Americas and to support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation through its Play for P.I.N.K initiative to improve the quality of life for all patients and survivors.”