By Abby Walton
At just 24-years old, Sara Moyer Carpenter was told, “You have breast cancer.” However, this Ball State University alum and Pi Beta Phi sorority member never let her diagnosis define her.
“She actually had her first chemo treatment on her 25th birthday,” said Heather Chastain, a sorority sister of Carpenter’s. Chastain said during her treatments, Carpenter met two other young women dealing with various types of cancer. Together, they started throwing Cancer Sucks parties to raise money for cancer research.
After battling breast cancer, life returned to normal for Carpenter. However, at age 30 she learned that the cancer was back, and it had spread.
“I would look on her Facebook and see updates about her treatments and prognosis and although the news wasn’t always great, Sara was always positive,” Chastain said. After a long struggle, Carpenter lost her fight with cancer on September 25, 2012. She was 30 years old and left behind a husband, young daughter and many family and friends who loved her.
“Her death really hit me hard because I have a daughter about the same age as Sara’s,” Chastain said. She and another sorority sister, Christina Young, decided to do something to honor Carpenter’s memory and raise money to help find a cure.
“We created a group called Sara’s Soldiers. Last year we did the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure in her honor and raised $2, 000,” Chastain said. But they didn’t stop there.
“Sara always believed in fighting the good fight when it came to cancer treatments and research. So we wanted to continue this and help find a cure,” Chastain said.
One of the many ways they’re helping is by holding a Cancer Sucks party in memory of Carpenter.
“Even though Sara was from Noblesville, we decided to hold the party in Zionsville because she has so many friends and family around the Central Indiana area,” Chastain said. By auctioning off some amazing gift packages, Chastain said they hope to raise lots of money that’ll go to the local Susan G. Komen for a Cure.
“We have been blown away by the support from the community,” Chastain said. To view the auction items before the party, visit www.facebook.com/SarasSoldiers.
“Sara was an amazing person who affected so many people with her positive attitude in the face of adversity. We owe it to her to find a cure,” Chastain said.
Cancer Sucks
7 to 10 p.m.
Oct. 19
Stonegate Meeting House
6653 Westminster Dr.
Silent auctions, door prizes
$10 donation at the door