Alison Holt-Fuller

Name: Alison Holt-Fuller

City/Town: Richmond, VA

Goal: $5,000

Why I am Participating:

In March 2024, I heard the words no one ever wants to hear: “You have cancer.”
After a routine mammogram, I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. What followed was a whirlwind — surgery in April, 12 weeks of chemotherapy starting in July, and 20 days of radiation after completing chemo in December. Along the way, I lost a part of me, including my hair, eyebrows, eyelashes (turns out they do serve a purpose!), fingerprints (yes, that’s a thing!), and my energy to do the simplest of things.

But here’s what I didn’t lose: hope.

I gained new friends, allies, and an entirely new perspective on life. I was surrounded by an incredible oncology team, supportive and loving family and friends, and the unwavering patience and care of my husband. And despite losing my hair and fingerprints, I’m proud to say I didn’t turn to a life of crime!

Today, I’m thrilled to say I’m alive and cancer-free. 
While my journey continues in “maintenance mode” — with monthly labs, scans every six months, annual bone density checks, and ongoing medications — I’m moving forward with gratitude, strength, and pink shoes.

By participating in Sole Stars, I’m embarking on another kind of journey — one that raises awareness, funds, and hope for others affected by breast cancer. This cause is deeply personal to me, but it’s also a growing concern for so many:

• Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women in the U.S., accounting for 1 in 3 new female cancers each year.
• Incidence rates have increased by about 1% per year in recent years.
• The average woman’s lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is 1 in 8 — for men, it’s 1 in 726.
• While it remains the second leading cause of cancer death among women, mortality rates are decreasing thanks to early detection, awareness, and better treatments.

By lacing up my pink shoes, I’m helping the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation continue its critical work — supporting education, advocacy, and access to care for all Virginians.

Please join me in this mission by donating, sharing my story, and helping others get the care and screenings that can save lives. Check back often to see my progress and where my pink shoes take me!

Together, we can walk toward a future where no one faces breast cancer alone.