A Promise Between Two Sisters to Support Komen for the Cure in Saving Lives and Ending Breast Cancer Forever. (From L to R: Rebecca Hultquist and Laura Melendez)

I am so excited to be a part of this celebration honoring breast cancer survivors and co-survivors. I hope you will join my co-survivor (sister & event co-chair) Laura Melendez and me at this unique event. This educational event is a must attend for all survivors and co-survivors as it will include the latest advances in health & wellness, engaging presentations, and interactive networking all set to a creative fun-filled "masquerade" or as we call it MasCUREade backdrop.

I suggested the theme of MasCUREade for a few different reasons. As women we sometimes feel like super heroes, and super heroes usually wear masks. I feel like in my own life I wear many different masks and for many different reasons. The majority of my time right now is spent wearing the mask of motherhood. It encompasses being a wife and full time stay at home mom to my three beautiful daughters. When I remove that mask I reveal myself as a unique individual - strong, intelligent, and beautiful. There is also the mask of being a breast cancer survivor. Sometimes I wear this mask as an advocate or as a volunteer or as a supporter of another woman battling this disease. Sometimes it's ok not to wear a mask at all. It's then that I remember I'm just an ordinary woman who happened to have been diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 33 years old. 

Besides my husband and three daughters, my sister Laura was my #1 co-survivor. I chose her to help me chair the MasCUREade, because she completely fulfills my definition of a co-survivor. Mask or no mask we're all just everyday women trying to get through a breast cancer diagnosis together. Sometimes we wear masks as a way to hide, and that can actually be a comfort in troubled times. But masks are more often playful, fun, celebratory, and tell a story by their decoration. My sister supported me throughout my treatment in ways only a sister could, and in ways only a co-survivor could, and for that I am truly thankful. Together we are really excited about this very special celebration of wellness, and can't wait to see you there. We look forward to sharing our masked, and unmasked, selves with you as we gather to celebrate survivorship.

Rebecca Hultquist

MasCUREade Chair

41/2 year survivor

Click here to learn more about the MasCUREade.