FOR HER WITH LOVE
Health · Empowerment · Resilience
Welcome
For Her With Love honors Black women who face breast cancer with strength and grace. Share a short note to a future survivor. Offer a tip, a prayer, or a kind word. Love travels.
Led by Dr. Vanessa Sheppard, Virginia Commonwealth University
Events & Updates
We Connected, We Shared, We Unveiled!
On February 27, 2026, the For HER with Love community gathered virtually for an exciting check-in meeting — a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, celebrate progress, and look ahead at what's coming.
Dr. Vanessa Sheppard opened the session with words of encouragement, and Sara Gomez shared the latest progress on the For HER with Love book, including highlights from our community post-it activity — which captured the voices, hopes, and insights of the women at the heart of this work.
One of the most exciting moments was the unveiling of the For HER with Love website — the very place you're visiting right now! Attendees responded with warmth and enthusiasm, and the conversation continued well beyond the meeting itself.
Thank you to everyone who joined us. This community means everything to us.
For HER with Love: Hampton Roads
We are thrilled to announce that For HER with Love is coming to Hampton Roads! Join us for a full day of celebration, community, and empowerment honoring Black breast cancer survivors — bringing together survivors, advocates, researchers, faith leaders, and community partners for a day of storytelling, inspiration, and connection.
Our Inaugural Event
For HER with LOVE: Launching a Survivor-Centered Initiative
On November 10, 2025, the For HER (Health, Empowerment, and Resilience) with LOVE initiative™ was launched with sponsorship and collaboration from the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and the VCU Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, and hosted at The Valentine Museum in Richmond.
The event was a great success, reaching full capacity with more than 80 attendees who came from across Virginia and surrounding states as far as Columbia, South America. The event honored the voices and strength of Black breast cancer survivors and their caregivers while fostering dialogue among survivors, advocates, researchers, and health professionals.
Founded by Dr. Vanessa B. Sheppard, For HER with LOVE™ aims to share the insights and lived experiences of survivors to guide the development of a forthcoming community book and resources that will blend decades of community-engaged breast cancer research with survivor perspectives.
The vision was fueled by the paradox of a 40% higher breast cancer mortality for Black women against the tremendous progress of science and the resilient spirit of Thrivers.
The day began with portraits and recordings of survivors sharing their personal journeys. In the afternoon, after an opening prayer from Rev. Rachel Pierce, attendees were welcomed by Delegate Delores McQuinn, followed by remarks from Dr. Monica Baskin, Deputy Director of Research at Massey.
Participants represented a variety of community-based organizations, including the American Cancer Society, Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, Tigerlily Foundation, Thelma B. Jones Foundation, Here for the Girls, and CancerLinc, among others.
The keynote address was delivered by Maimah Karmo, Founder and CEO of the Tigerlily Foundation, who shared an inspiring message on resilience, advocacy, and the power of community. Through storytelling, dialogue, and celebration, For HER with LOVE underscored the vital role of survivor-centered research.
About Dr. Vanessa Sheppard
Dr. Vanessa Sheppard is a cancer scientist whose work centers on amplifying patient experience and voices in cancer care, with an emphasis on groups often underrepresented in research.
As a Senior Advisor at the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University, Dr. Sheppard has dedicated her career to translating decades of community-engaged research into meaningful action and awareness for Black breast cancer survivors and their families.
For HER with LOVE™ is her mandate to give back to the thousands of study participants who have shared their perspectives, clinical records, and even biospecimens — honoring their courage by building a lasting resource for the community.
What We Stand For
Health
Prioritizing wellness and prevention is essential for survivors to thrive, heal, and reclaim their lives with strength and vitality.
Empowerment
Empowerment gives survivors the knowledge, confidence, and tools to advocate for themselves, make informed decisions, and take control of their journey with courage.
Resilience
Resilience helps survivors find strength through adversity, bounce back from setbacks, and embrace life with hope and determination despite challenges.
About the Book
FOR HER with Love is part of a larger initiative to translate cancer research to communities. A critical part of this includes community conversations and ultimately the first edition of a Breast Health Book curated for and by African American/Black Women.
In this beautiful first edition, we translate years of community-engaged research into a visually compelling, accessible, and culturally relevant educational resource that guides readers through the breast cancer care continuum — from prevention to survivorship and end-of-life care.
Filled with stories and testimonies, the book is written and designed with Black/African American women at its core. Physicians and researchers will offer a unique perspective on conducting community-engaged research and patient-centered care rooted in cultural sensitivity.
This journey has begun — and what started with our inaugural gathering continues to grow. As we build this legacy book, we hold space for all those who have made this work meaningful throughout the years, in celebration of life, health, empowerment, and resilience.
Our Community in Action
Moments from our inaugural event and community gatherings — celebrating strength, resilience, and sisterhood.
Community Poll
What topic would you most like our next webinar to cover?
Ways to Get Involved
Write a Note
Send a message of hope to a future survivor today.
Share the Page
Invite a friend to add her voice to this community.
Participate in Research
Find out more about participating in clinical trials.
Partner
Bring your organization into this vital work.