Thousands gathered in downtown Huntsville Saturday morning for the 23rd annual Liz Hurley Ribbon Run, a community event that raises awareness for breast cancer. Among the participants were two inspiring survivors walking side‑by‑side: 80‑year‑old Shirley Osieczanek and her daughter Tonia.
Two generations, one battle
Shirley was 60 when she discovered a lump in her breast in 2006. After a needle biopsy confirmed cancer, she underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, and had all of her lymph nodes removed in two separate operations. She has been cancer‑free since 2008 and continues to receive annual mammograms. “I stayed positive for my family,” Shirley said, recalling how her newborn granddaughter, Sophia, helped her keep fighting during treatment.
Eighteen years later, Tonia, who had been getting regular screening mammograms since age 34 because of her family history, received a clear result from a 3D mammogram in October 2024. A VA screener in Birmingham offered her an optional MRI with contrast, which she almost declined. The MRI revealed a suspicious mass, and a subsequent biopsy diagnosed her with Stage 1 breast cancer in December 2024.
Support and resilience
Tonia underwent surgery on Christmas Eve 2024, followed by six weeks of daily radiation. Her mother flew in for the procedure, expressing guilt that her daughter might have inherited the disease. “My first thought was, well, now she got it from mom,” Shirley admitted. Testing later showed Tonia’s cancer was not genetic.
Both women credit the strong support network in Huntsville. Tonia, president of the Huntsville Havoc Booster Club, attended a Havoc hockey game three days after surgery, where players presented her with a signed card and flowers. “People everywhere let me know it was going to be okay,” she said.
“Don’t Bench the Girls” team
For this year’s Ribbon Run, Tonia organized a team of 19 runners through the Booster Club called “Don’t Bench the Girls,” a play on hockey terminology that also reminds women to get their checks done. Her mother and aunt traveled nearly 1,000 miles from Minnesota to join the team, marking the first time the mother‑daughter pair will walk the run together.
Previously, Tonia walked the Susan G. Komen 60‑mile trek in 2012 to honor her mother, and Shirley had long expressed a desire to walk alongside her daughter. “We made it,” Shirley said, smiling as they prepared for the Saturday walk.
Message to the community
Both survivors urge women not to skip screenings. “Take breast cancer awareness very seriously and do your mammograms, do your self‑checkups,” Tonia emphasized. “If you suspect anything at all, go in and get it checked.” Their story underscores the importance of early detection, family support, and community involvement in the fight against breast cancer.
Original reporting: WAFF 48 Huntsville (news) — read the source article.
