Fighting for Courage

A Miami breast cancer survivor finds her purpose while encouraging others in the fight to live strong

When Kim Heard was diagnosed with breast cancer, she found comfort in befriending survivors.

“I wanted to find women who had gone through what I was about to start,” she says. “I wanted to talk and listen without having a pity party.”

MIA_Group Shot_01Heard was 38 when she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer and underwent a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation. Now a 20-year survivor, she is actively involved in the Miami breast cancer community through her work with Susan G. Komen and Ford Motor Co.’s Warriors in Pink program.

“I never thought cancer would kill me,” she says. “So after I was diagnosed, I knew that I wanted to dedicate myself to help women who would go through this too.”

Heard focuses on raising awareness and supporting others with similar cancers. She also works with Miami’s Caribbean community to reshape how women’s health issues are talked about.

As one of the most active volunteers in Miami, Heard was named a “Model of Courage” through the Warriors in Pink program, which provides free resources to give patients and survivors “more good days.”

“After I was first diagnosed, my daughter asked me, ‘Why did this have to happen to you?’ ” Heard remembers. “I told her that everything happens as it’s meant to and there will be a reason for it.”

For Heard, a breast cancer diagnosis led her to a world of sisterhood she otherwise would have never discovered.

“I didn’t really have a purpose before this,” she says. “Now I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

In the two years since Heard was chosen as a “Model of Courage,” she has organized free community mammogram tests, hosted mixers, led educational sessions and celebrated survivorship with others in South Florida.

Through Ford’s Warriors in Pink program, Heard also raises awareness about free resources for patients and survivors, such as a subscription to a meditation app, meal-kit deliveries and access to an online platform that provides errand, childcare and ride services.

“When this happens, you have so many questions,” she says. “There are so many clinicians around, but sometimes, the best people to answer them are those who went through it themselves.”

Heard also was part of Ford’s “More Good Days Tour,” a free activity series for patients and survivors. Activities ranged from dance classes to private concerts and personal styling sessions, each with the goal to reinvigorate and rejuvenate those fighting breast cancer.

For now, Heard has no plans to slow down. Though her diagnosis was more than 20 years ago, awareness, treatment and recovery remain important to her, she says.

“Breast cancer is one of those things that if you haven’t experienced it yourself, it’s hard to understand,” she says. “Connecting patients and survivors has become my mission.”

You May Also Like
La Vie en Rose: Actor, Singer, Songwriter – the List Goes On…

Tommi Rose defines versatility, and it all started right here in Fort Lauderdale.  

Read More
eséna Facial Bar Debuts in Downtown Oakland Park

Quick, luxurious, and budget-friendly, eséna Facial Bar’s express treatments empower busy customers to prioritize their skincare and wellness needs effortlessly.

Read More
BE BOLD Leadership Campaign Raises $415 Million to Help Strengthen Broward’s Future

The Community Foundation of Broward’s BE BOLD Leadership Campaign has secured the funding to address the county’s most pressing challenges, ensuring long-term philanthropic impact through bold giving.

Read More
Parkland 17 Memorial Foundation Unveils Design for Students Lost in MSD Tragedy

The official public memorial is moving forward with artist Gordon Huether’s design.

Read More
Other Posts
The Dating Game

What’s it like for South Florida singles seeking meaningful connections in middle age? With perseverance and a sense of humor, love can be found.

Read More
Faces of Change

These six philanthropists are leading the charge to change the world, and not just by writing a check.

Read More
Strategic Investment Helps Drives Growth for Miami-Based No Days Off Premium Water

The brand is currently planning for 2025
launches in retailers across the Southeast as it continues to grow distribution.

Read More
No Days Off
Dine Like a True VIP at Sushi by Bou Wynwood

The restaurant has over 20 locations in the U.S.

Read More
Sushi-by-Bou