Hope shined brightly in the Sonderling Gymnasium on April 18 as community members gathered for a breast cancer awareness event centered on remembrance, resilience and support for students. The program featured keynote remarks from three local survivors with strong ties to the community, alongside a walk to honor loved ones and celebrate those who have faced a diagnosis. Attendees shared hugs, handshakes and quiet conversations throughout the event, reflecting both the emotional weight of the experience and a shared sense of solidarity. 

“As heartbroken and scared as I was, I knew this was a sign,” said Delia Melendez-Leon, a Brentwood alumna and current math teacher, reflecting on her diagnosis. “A sign that I had to be strong in a way I never had before. A sign that I needed to fight, but also a sign that I needed to start truly living my life. Because the truth is, for a long time, I’d been in survival mode, I’d been in wife mode, mama mode, teacher mode – always showing up for everyone else, always pouring into others, and somewhere along the way, I stopped pouring into myself. I became stagnant. And cancer, as painful as it is to say, shook me awake. It forced me to look at my life and ask, ‘Am I really living? Am I enjoying the moments I’ve been given?’”  

Although October is widely recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the realities of diagnosis and recovery extend far beyond a single month. The event aimed to keep that awareness present year-round while raising funds for student scholarships. This year’s event was dedicated to the memory of Elizabeth “Lila” Marrero, close friend of Board President Eileen Felix and community advocate, who passed away on April 8. 

Michael Landesberg, an executive chef and community partner, spoke about using his experience as a male survivor to help others realize the disease does not discriminate based on gender. “I felt that by sharing my story and holding fundraisers, that I would be able to help other people going forward,” he said. “And that’s really what it’s all about, is helping other people and trying to potentially save somebody else’s life.” 

Jessenia Mejia, a Brentwood parent and motivational speaker, was met with cheers and applause as she spoke vulnerably about faith as a source of strength. “I am a true believer of God,” she said. “And if you have God, well, that’s all you need, right?” 

The event brought together families, educators, residents and community sponsors and partners in a shared effort to uplift one another and support education. Organizers said the day served as a reminder that behind every diagnosis is a network of people ready to stand together, reinforcing the message that no one faces breast cancer alone.