Every Step A Story: Lisa’s Journey of Strength, Sisterhood, and Hope
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Meet Lisa
A single mom, daughter, friend and the person everyone could count on – Lisa Soltis has always lived her life grounded in positivity, resilience and showing up for others no matter what. She was the strong one. Lovingly nicknamed “She-Hulk” by her son and “Broomhilda” by her dad.
Before her own diagnosis, Lisa was no stranger to hardship. She had already helped her son through serious health challenges and endured the heartbreak of losing her father to cancer. Still, nothing could have prepared her to hear the words, “You have cancer.”
In 2022, after a routine mammogram led to additional testing, Lisa’s life changed in an instant. What followed was a long and exhausting journey through chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and difficult side effects – all while continuing to work full time and raise her son. Through every challenge, Lisa kept moving forward, holding tightly to hope and positivity as she faced HER2-positive breast cancer.
One of the most important lessons she learned during this journey was that healing is not something anyone should have to do alone.
In July 2022, while in the middle of chemotherapy, Lisa came to Mary’s Place by the Sea. At first, she almost didn’t come. She was exhausted, emotionally drained, and struggling to feel like herself after losing her hair and confidence during treatment. Like so many guests, she felt hesitant about walking into a house full of strangers. This was far outside her comfort zone.
Instead, she found exactly what she needed.
At Mary’s Place, Lisa found peace, comfort, understanding and a group of women who quickly became her “angels on earth.” They became her “sister warriors” – women connected through honesty, support, laughter and healing. The friendships formed during her retreat became lifelong bonds, reminding one another that even in the darkest moments of cancer, no woman has to walk through it alone.
Those friendships became such an important part of Lisa’s story that the group returned together the following year, welcoming even more women into their circle of support!
Today, Lisa says the relationships she built and the time she spent at Mary’s Place remain some of the brightest lights to come from her cancer journey.
This year’s Annual Walk-A-Thon & 5K theme, “Every Step A Story,” honors women like Lisa.
Every participant, survivor, supporter, volunteer and caregiver carries a story of strength, resilience and connection. By walking with us, you help ensure that more women with cancer can experience the same comfort, sisterhood and hope that Lisa found at Mary’s Place by the Sea.
We hope you’ll join us this October as we walk together in celebration. 💙
Register at https://www.runsignup.com/marysplacebytheseawalk2026
