Olympic Medalist Uses Mother’s Cancer Journey to Educate and Inspire

When U.S. beach volleyball Olympic medalist April Ross was just 19 years old, she lost her mother, Margie, to metastatic breast cancer. Despite this devastating loss, Ross drew inspiration from Margie’s unwavering spirit and continued to pursue her goals, ultimately winning a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

In this week’s episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Ross about how the time she was able to spend with her mother motivates her to make the most of her time now, and why it’s so important for individuals who are undergoing cancer treatment to have a strong support system.

Ultimately, Ross explained, the courage and determination that Margie showed throughout her cancer journey continue to impact who Ross is, both on and off the court. “Seeing how dedicated my mom was to giving my sister and I opportunities and a normal childhood, and the sacrifices she made, and the courage she showed, and her bravery make it so much easier for me to draw inspiration from that and use that on the court,” she said.

“Those intrinsic things, those intangible things … the spirit that she exhibited is what inspires me.”

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