Brenda Karp

Name:Brenda Elliott Karp

City/Town: Midlothian, Virginia

Goal: $10,000 +

Why I am Participating: 

In 1986, when I was just 17, my world was forever changed. My beautiful mother—my best friend, my safe place, the one who taught me everything about life and unconditional love—was diagnosed with breast cancer at only 39. She was radiant, full of love and life, with a rare gift for touching everyone she met. She was sunshine in human form, with a way of making people feel truly seen, valued, and cherished. Her faith was her foundation, her Christianity was her guiding light, and through every hardship she leaned on both with quiet strength and powerful conviction. I watched her endure treatment after treatment, surgery after surgery, and clinical trials, yet she carried herself with unwavering grace and courage. She never let cancer steal her spirit. After eight long years of bravery, my mother's fight ended, but her legacy lives on. To me, she was—and always will be—my hero. And even now, her strength, her love, and her faith continue to shape who I am and fuel my determination to make a difference in her honor.

Years later, my heart was tested again when one of my dearest friends—the kind of friend who feels like family—was diagnosed with breast cancer. Hearing those words brought back all the memories, all the fear, and all the pain I had lived through with my mom. But this time, the story unfolded differently. My friend faced her diagnosis with faith,  courage and grace, and thanks to advances in medicine and the tireless work of organizations like VBCF, her story had a different ending.  Today, she is cancer-free. Her resilience and her joy remind me every day that hope is real. To me, she is not just a survivor—she is a living testament to how far we’ve come and why this fight matters. My mom will always represent the love and strength that shaped me, and my friend embodies the hope that keeps me moving forward. Together, their stories are the heartbeat of my mission.

For more than 25 years, I’ve been involved and supported VBCF. This year, I am stepping out as a SOLE STAR in my special pink shoes (and we all know how much I love pink) in honor of these two extraordinary women—my beloved mom, whose love continues to guide me, and my treasured friend, whose survival gives me strength and hope for the future.

✨ I’ve set myself a big challenge: I don’t just want to raise money—I want to raise the MOST money. I want to be the top fundraiser, leading the way in honor of my mom, my friend, and every friend, individual and family that has been touched by breast cancer.

Your donation—no matter the size—brings me closer to that goal. Every gift fuels VBCF’s mission: education, advocacy, and life-changing resources for families facing breast cancer. Together, we can honor, celebrate, and create hope.

With your love and support, I believe we can reach the very top—because together, we can change the story.