TRI-CITIES, Wash. - October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but for those personally changed by cancer, that awareness lasts not for a single month, but forever. Holly Boyce, rang the bell of recovery 14 years ago, and each year since she has made it her mission to live life to the fullest.
"It taught me a lot of lessons and I would definitely say at the end of the day, I took more from cancer than it took from me," Boyce said.
Powerful words, and a saying that Boyce lives by. It's been a tradition in many hospitals and treatment centers for cancer patients to ring a bell at the end of radiation or chemotherapy, signifying they are cancer free. Boyce heard the sweet chime of the recovery bell 14 years ago after her year-long battle with breast cancer. She was 30 years old at the time.
Loved and supported every second by her family, friends, and the team of doctors at the Kadlec Tri-Cities Cancer Center, she made it, and each year since, Boyce has made it her mission to live an exciting life.
"My mission every single year is to do something that scares me, so post cancer I've made bucket lists, I've jumped off of buildings, I've ran in marathons, I've done triathlons, and I decided to join a pageant system because it's something I've wanted to do since I was 20-plus, and never had a chance to do it, and the opportunity presented itself so I decided to join the Mrs. America program," she said.
This past May, Boyce competed at the state level as Mrs. Tri-Cities for the first time, at 44 years old; she got the top eight spot for Mrs. Washington. It was a daring, intimidating at times, but overall beautiful adventure.
And coming up in March, Boyce is headed to the big stage again to prove she can do even better than she did before; she wants to win Mrs. Washington and pave the way to Mrs. America. Her motto?
"Live life and not exist in it, and that is really truly what it means to be a survivor to me," Boyce said. "It's living life, having those experiences, it's pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones to do things that are scary and challenging. We grow as people and when we grow, we live, we actually truly live, and that's why we're here."
Whether it be dressed in a gown, sash, and crown, or in workout attire, Boyce is moving through life with passion. One place she started to find her fire post-cancer, is Orange Theory Fitness (OTF) in Richland.
Dmitri Zaslavsky owns this location of OTF, and more across the region.
Boyce and Zaslavsky met years ago when Boyce became a member at the popular fitness center. From there, she asked for a job - quickly, Boyce was promoted from member, to working the front desk, to coaching classes, to supervising them.
"I think her drive is to live life to the fullest, in her personality, her character, the way she represents herself, and her passion for everything that she does and that is inspiring to other people," Zaslavsky said.
Something that's always been clear to Zaslavsky about Boyce is her mission to help people just like herself.
"It makes you smile inside and out, because you see people like that and it's heartwarming, it's touching," he said.
A few weekends ago, Boyce and the team at OTF helped raise money so more and more people battling cancer have the chance to beat it. Boyce coached a guest class in Richland proceeds to the Tri-Cities Cancer Center. It was a fun, sweaty day, with a purpose.
The class raised 500 dollars alone and the link to donate is still live online. You can find that on Boyce's Facebook page at Holly Austin-Boyce.
"Any chance I can get to give back to the people who saved my life, I will definitely do that," Boyce said.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. In 2024, an estimated 310,720 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.
For Boyce, each day since ringing the bell is a new day to do something new, and to help others do the same.
"I just look at it as an opportunity to be even more grateful to be here, doing whatever it is that I'm supposed to do on this earth, and I'm lucky I'm still here to do it."
Boyce found out she had breast cancer by accident - she was adjusting a piece of clothing when she swiped over her breast and felt a lump. It was a tumor.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, when breast cancer is detected early, and is in the localized stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%. Early detection includes doing monthly breast self-exams, and scheduling regular clinical breast exams and mammograms.
Right now, there are over four million breast cancer survivors in the US.
FOX41 Yakima©FOX11 TriCities©