Parent Magazine Volusia January 2019 | Page 3

ME STRONG began when four women honored their close friend Linda Ryan who was battling cancer. The friends hosted the inaugural ME STRONG 5k walk/run in January 2012 in DeLand, Florida with a goal of lifting Linda’s spirit and bringing the community together to commit to healthy living. The inaugural event was such a success the five women behind ME STRONG took their message and charitable donations to a larger stage and became a 501 (c)(3)  charitable organization dedicated to offering financial assistance to individuals battling cancer and to also supporting groundbreaking research. Today, the ME STRONG 5k walk/run is a highly anticipated annual event attracting nearly 4,000 participants. The ME STRONG organization has donated more than $700,000 to ease the financial burden of those  undergoing cancer treatment and to research efforts in search of a cure.   What started as four women honoring a friend battling cancer has grown into a movement of individuals committed to supporting Central Floridians in the fight against cancer.