The story of Team Mo Money begins with Maureen Hebert Anderson, the only girl in a family of five and the proud survivor of growing up with four brothers who toughened her up in all the best ways. She learned early how to negotiate for TV time, hold her own in any argument, and absorb the important life lessons that come from watching whatever her brothers picked, which usually involved action heroes, sports, and things exploding. Being the only girl had its perks too. There were never any hand me downs and Maureen stayed quiet about it because she knew she had gotten the better end of that deal.
As adulthood rolled in, Maureen watched her brothers start families and her friends move into their next chapters. Her own path was about to do the same until life added its own twist. One month before marrying her husband Bobby, Maureen was blindsided with a breast cancer diagnosis. It was the kind of moment that stops everything, rewrites expectations, and demands courage most people never have to find. But Maureen, who grew up learning strength from four brothers and watching more action heroes than princesses, faced chemo, radiation, and multiple surgeries with determination, grace, and her signature humor. She fought hard, she struggled honestly, and she came out of it with a strength deeper than she ever expected.
While treatments meant Maureen could not have children of her own, her heart has always been full because of the 17 nieces and nephews who adore her. Her brothers and sister in law’s, made sure she was included in every milestone, every celebration, and every joy, and they honored her by making her a godparent more than once. Being Aunt Mo became one of her greatest roles, a source of purpose, connection, and endless laughter. True to who she is, Maureen shows up for each of them with the same warmth, loyalty, and humor she brings to everyone lucky enough to know her.
Today, Maureen is thriving, laughing loudly, living brightly, and continuing to be the heart of her family. Team Mo Money was created in her honor, not just for the fight she endured but for the spirit she carries. We plunge because Maureen fought. We plunge because many families are still fighting. We plunge because community matters, and because choosing to jump into freezing water somehow feels easier when you are doing it for people you love. Every donation supports families navigating their own cancer journeys and every splash reminds us of the strength, resilience, and joy that Maureen embodies.