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To help raise awareness and money for those dealing with the disease a local woman is once again lacing up her running shoes.

"To get that medal every year tells me every year that I made it I'm healthy," said Andrea Caruso. "It didn't get me.”

In 2004 Caruso was diagnosed with breast cancer. Unable to work through her treatments, she needed help from her sister to pay the mortgage.

"Every time I looked at her check I thought what is a woman doing who's going through what I'm going through who doesn't have a sister who just sent them a check? What are they doing? They’re losing their house. They’re not feeding their kids,” Caruso said.

After her recovery Caruso founded Sustain Inspire Survive, or SIS. Over the past five years the non profit has helped hundreds of breast cancer survivors get by. Women like Sue Rittenhouse of Scottsville, who was unable to pay her heating bills.

"All of the sudden you're looking at these things thinking we've got to pay these bills and how are we going to it," said Rittenhouse. "It was just a real difficult time and they were there and I can't imagine them not being there."

While she was still undergoing chemotherapy, Caruso entered and finished the New York City Marathon in 2004. Since then she has continued to brave the 26-mile race each year to raise money for SIS to help others.

"I had made this huge vow to myself this year I was going to beat my best time," Caruso said. "I don't think that's going to happen."

Training isn't easy. For Caruso, finding the right motivation is.

"It feels pretty good to take a swing back at breast cancer because it tried to take a swing at me," Caruso added.

Caruso won't be running alone. Team SIS, which includes her daughter Hannah, will be there as well. Last year Caruso’s team raised $6,000. Caruso is shooting for $10,000 this year.

If you'd like to make a donation you can visit the SIS website by clicking on the link below.

Team SIS Website