About MBC
 “Our mission is to transition metastatic breast cancer from a terminal diagnosis to a chronic, manageable disease with a decent quality of life.”

THE ORIGIN OF THE RIBBON
The pink ribbon is well-known for representing the fight against breast cancer, but many stage 4 breast cancer patients feel that pink does not encapsulate their experience. Metastatic breast cancer may start in the breast, but its spread to vital organs makes the disease fatal. To highlight the uniqueness of the disease and show its commonality with other stage 4 cancers, METAvivor designed a base ribbon of green and teal to represent metastasis. Green represents the triumph of spring over winter, life over death, and symbolizes renewal, hope, and immortality while teal symbolizes healing and spirituality. The thin pink ribbon overlay signifies that the metastatic cancer originated in the breast. Because all stage 4 cancer patients have common concerns and challenges, we invite other cancer communities to overlay their own cancer’s ribbon on this metastatic ribbon base.​

Stage 4, MBC is the incurable and terminal stage of breast cancer.
It is called metastatic because the cancer cells have spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body, most commonly bones, liver, lungs, and brain. Today patients live longer with the disease thanks to research into new, and less harsh treatments.

Even so, less than a third don’t make it past five (5) years. That is devastating and we, the patients, do not accept that. With more funds focused specifically on MBC, we believe this can transform the disease from being a deadly one to a chronic one that allows us to live a long and somewhat normal life. Research is truly the only way to save lives.

Galas raise millions of dollars to research.
The Met Gala SCV is one of many fundraising galas and events organized nationwide by patients volunteering for METAvivor, raising millions of dollars to MBC research. METAvivor is a volunteer-led, 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, and the only one in the US that exclusively funds MBC research through a scientific peer-review process.

EVENT CHAIRS

INSTAGRAM

     THRIVER- EVENT CHAIR

EVA MIRANDA CRAWFORD

At the young age of 41 I decided to get my first mammogram. That mammogram turned into an ultrasound which turned into a biopsy which turned into a phone call from my doctor that I had breast cancer. I was shocked. I was very active and felt healthy working as a dermatology representative and raising my three young children who were 3, 5 & 9 at the time. To make matters worse, I had a PET scan which determined that the cancer was not simply in my breast, but it was also up and down my spine, in my hips and there were innumerable breast cancer tumors in my liver. For this reason, I was immediately considered a metastatic breast cancer patient. Before I was even allowed to begin chemotherapy, I was immediately rushed to the hospital to get a prophylactic rod placed in my left femur to prevent the cancer from eating away my hip! 
Thanks to wonderful medications and research, I am here today four years later to tell the story. It's not easy living with MBC. For example, I have had the cancer spread to my brain which was daunting to say the least. Another more obvious example is that I spend every day wondering if I will live long enough to watch my kids graduate from high school, or even elementary school. 
METAvivor has been an inspiration and passion of mine because they allocate money to institutions that are specially focused on identifying more treatments for the already metastatic patient.  Furthermore, 100% of the donations to METAvivor go directly towards research. I am alive today and getting infusions every three weeks because of previous research. 
In between fighting cancer, you will see me hanging out with my husband Jon and our new puppy, cheering on my 3 children at baseball, basketball and soccer or catching up with family & friends. My dream is to be 70 years old and still thriving.

INSTAGRAM

   SURVIVOR -EVENT CO-CHAIR                    

AMY STEFFE LOHMANN

I found a lump in my left breast one month after a mammogram that was normal with exception of dense breast tissue.  No other studies were ordered so I thought my lump was nothing.  
Ultimately months later, my mass was evaluated, ultrasound scanned, biopsied and found to be mammography negative Stage 3A estrogen/progesterone positive invasive ductal carcinoma (breast cancer).  The diagnosis led to 5 surgeries, 16 rounds of chemo, and 21 rounds of radiation.  
I have been ordered to continue aggressive medications with side effects to prevent relapse for at least 10 years.  
While the breast cancer diagnosis was devastating to my husband, children and family; I have never felt more love or support from my friends, and community.  That support was my rock and I want to do the same for other women in the same position.  
If I were to relapse, I would be metastatic and I know the statistics are not in our favor.  Using my influence and community to raise awareness and money to fund metastatic breast cancer research is my mission.  Eva is my sister in her fight.  I am so grateful to be her friend and to team up with her to start raising the needed funds.  We plan to have an annual Gala for METAvivor and  a foundation of our own someday.  Please check your breasts, get regular screening exams and live a life of healthy choices.  
As a nurse practitioner, I was lucky to understand my treatment.  I was able to prepare myself and family for my future treatments.  My dream is to educationally and financially help other women to support their needs while fighting against breast cancer.  

Bill Miranda - CO-CHAIR 

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Bill Miranda is a leadership trainer, coach and motivational speaker. He has worked with
thousands of men and women to help them develop and improve their leadership skills in order
to lead their organizations successfully.
Bill is a U.S. Air Force veteran and has completed graduate studies in leadership and
organizational management. He is a former Fortune 500 executive who worked at IBM, Xerox
and Data General and has been at the forefront of the computer technological revolution. He
went on to become an entrepreneur and a leader in the barcode data collection industry and built
one of the leading data collection companies in Mexico.
Bill sold his company and joined the consulting industry. His clients were large
companies throughout the U.S., Mexico, Europe and China. Deciding to reduce his business
travels, Bill focused on consulting for local small businesses as a member of the Small Business
Development Center. He then became a founder and CEO of the Santa Clarita Latino Chamber
of Commerce.
Always being active in the Santa Clarita community, Bill was elected to the City of Santa
Clarita City Council and in 2021 was its sitting mayor. Bill continues as a City Councilman.