OUR FOUNDER

At the age of 26 years, two months after her "Mema" passed away after a long battle with breast cancer, Kara did a self breast exam in the shower. When she found a suspicious lump in her armpit area, she went to her doctor and was told she was “too young to worry.” She pushed for them to have a closer examination, only to find out that she did, in fact, have stage 3 breast cancer, which is considered to be an advanced and invasive stage of the disease.

After facing a double mastectomy, eight rounds of chemotherapy, four weeks of radiation, fertility treatments, a year of Herceptin treatments and hormone therapy that would last for a total of 10 years, Kara realized she wanted to go through this ordeal by “Fighting Pretty”—with a smile on her face, lipstick on her lips, and strength in her heart.

It was a pair of mini pink boxing gloves given to her by her best friend's mom, Meg O'Hanlon, another breast cancer survivor, that always reminded her to stay strong and never give up.

A family friend was diagnosed a few years after Kara finished treatment. Kara knew she needed to send on her strength. So Kara packed up her boxing gloves along with some lipstick and beauty accessories and the first Pretty Package was sent.

She knew she needed to share this attitude with other women facing similar battles, even those she didn't know, thus Fighting Pretty was born.

She began sending care packages, known as "Pretty Packages" out of her 500 square foot apartment Brooklyn, New York, creating a personal assembly line in her bedroom.

With the help of friends and colleagues, she settled on the name and logo, and watched as her project rapidly expanded.

Kara and Fighting Pretty are now based in Portland, Oregon, living with her dog (and Fighting Pretty mascot) Archie.

Kara has been recognized by the American Cancer Society and Fighting Pretty has received donations from major corporations such as Maybelline and Revlon. O.P.I. even created a signature nail polish, named “Fighting Pretty", naturally.

In addition, Kara is working with cancer hospitals all over the country to implement a Fighting Pretty Program to give packages to patients undergoing reconstructive surgeries or chemotherapy.

More significantly, over 5,000 Fighting Pretty packages have been sent to women all over the world.