I never imagined I’d be sharing this story—but here I am.
My name is Lonni, and I wear many hats: wife, bonus mom to two amazing girls, sister, daughter, friend, U.S. Navy veteran, and—perhaps most notably—a two-time breast cancer warrior and advocate.
At the age of 36, in April 2021, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. I went through intensive treatment and was grateful to achieve remission. But just shy of turning 40, in February 2025, I faced another devastating diagnosis: Stage 3 triple negative breast cancer.
My treatment journey has been long and grueling. It has included 19 rounds of IV chemotherapy, 9 surgeries, and 30 radiation sessions—with 16 more still ahead of me—as well as 6 months of oral chemotherapy. Each step has tested my strength in ways I never imagined.
Throughout it all, I’ve leaned on the unwavering love and support of my family, friends, care team, and even kind-hearted strangers. They have helped me find strength on the hardest days and reminded me of my purpose.
From the very beginning, I made a vow to them: I would fight with everything I had, and I would find a way to give meaning to these painful experiences. That promise turned into something much greater than I ever expected.
Today, that promise lives on through The Oak & Anchor Foundation, our officially established 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It was created out of love, community, and the desire to be a lifeline for others facing similar battles.
In our first year, thanks to the generosity of local donors, we were able to assemble and distribute over 100 chemo care bags to fellow warriors in treatment. We also launched our inaugural “Par Fore The Pair” golf tournament, which helped raise critical funds to support patients and contributed $10,000 to Susan G. Komen to aid in vital breast cancer research.
In our second year, we continued to grow. We expanded our care bag initiative and increased our research donation to nearly $17,000—all with the help of our amazing supporters.
Through The Oak & Anchor Foundation, our mission is clear: to serve as an anchor of hope for individuals navigating cancer treatment. We aim to provide compassionate, meaningful support that’s rooted in lived experience—because we truly understand the journey and the strength it takes to keep going.
This work is deeply personal. It was born from pain, but it is sustained by purpose, community, and an unshakable belief that in this family, no one fights alone.
- Lonni Stewart Anderson
