Vanessa is a Face2Face Coordinator and has gone above and beyond her role to support other young women. She is actively involved in the Breast Cancer Support Services of Berks group and fills multiple roles there including peer mentor and fundraiser. She created her own volunteer role as a YSC Volunteer Program Coordinator to help connect young women in her area to YSC volunteer opportunities. We are honored to present Vanessa Shurley as one of the YSC Game Changers for her volunteer work.
What inspires you in your work to support, empower or educate young women affected by breast cancer?
My own story inspires me to rise above stage IV and to empower other women to do the same. No matter the stage or where they are in their journey, they can rise above their diagnosis as well.
What about your work for young women affected by breast cancer makes you most proud?
I’m most proud of the friendships I've made and continue to make through volunteering and being a YSC Coordinator.
What are your hopes for the future, with regard to YSC and young breast cancer survivors?
I hope YSC will continue to grow and expand. We need more registered YSC Coordinators to assist and guide the many young women diagnosed every day.
What is your message for YSC on its 20th anniversary?
Keep on doing what you're doing!! I am so proud to have the opportunity to be a part of such a great organization. YSC has provided me with many great resources and given me the ability to share those with other young women.
Anything else you'd like to share?
I just want to say thank you to those who nominated me, whoever they are. I have made it a mission of mine to rise above stage IV and become active in both YSC and my local nonprofit support group.
Sharing my story has been both empowering to myself, as well as others. Breast cancer doesn't define you. You pave your own way on this journey to rise above, and if I can inspire and help others to do the same, that's what matters.
About YSC and Game Changers
Young Survival Coalition was founded in 1998 by young women diagnosed with breast cancer under age 35.
YSC is made up of people: survivors, co-survivors, volunteers, donors, healthcare providers. Our strength comes from our community. So in our 20th year, we will honor our roots — the people who have helped build YSC into what it is today — and also look forward, recognizing those in our community who are changing the future of breast cancer in young women.
We are highlighting these individuals as Game Changers throughout 2018 and sharing their stories with the world to thank them for their contributions to our community.
