From Pain to Purpose - A Personal Note from our Founder

A reflection on awareness, connection, and the women who remind me why I started.

As we wrap up Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’ve been reflecting on what an extraordinary season it’s been — for The Fondle Project, and for me personally. When I launched The Fondle Project in June 2023, it wasn’t meant to become a nonprofit. It began as an editorial-forward campaign — a modern, black-and-white visual series celebrating a diverse group of breast cancer survivors, ages 24 to 53. My goal was to create something different from traditional pink-ribbon awareness — a more modern and elevated expression of breast health awareness. At its heart, the project was about two things. The first was helping women feel beautiful again — to reconnect with their bodies, confidence, and sense of self after breast cancer. The second was to spotlight the importance of breast health and self-advocacy — encouraging women to perform their self-exams, know their normal, and trust their instincts.

That message is deeply personal for me. My own diagnosis was misdiagnosed and it was only through self-advocacy and persistence that my cancer was ultimately found. I learned firsthand that knowing your body and speaking up can save your life — and that belief became the foundation of The Fondle Project.

I never imagined how far this idea would reach. Then came the opportunity to share my story on The Drew Barrymore Show. Drew’s generosity — gifting The Fondle Project $10,000 — gave me the clarity and courage to take the next step. That moment turned what began as a passion project into a true movement.

And here we are — a year and a half later — continuing to grow, learn, and build community together.

Highlights from This Season

At the Liberty Road Summit, hosted by Nada Jones, I had the opportunity to speak to more than 200 women about breast health and the importance of knowing your normal. In just ten minutes, I shared my story, guided everyone through a proper breast self-exam, and watched the entire room participate. Afterward, women approached me to thank me for normalizing the conversation — including several survivors. In the days that followed, my inbox filled with messages from women who scheduled their screenings or performed their self-exams for the first time. One woman even found a lump — thankfully, it was benign — but her story was a powerful reminder of why awareness matters.

.

In late September, we hosted our Fall Back To You Event — an afternoon panel of experts focused on hormonal health, breast health, and self-advocacy, with a reflective circle led by my good friend Rachael Blumberg Chiprut. It was a chance for women to connect, reflect, and remember that caring for ourselves is not selfish — it’s sacred.

Movement was another theme this month. Community is part of healing. A heartfelt thank-you to Studio MDR and founder Lisa Hirsch-Solomon, and to Paige Gilson of Pvolve Santa Monica, for hosting their 2nd annual donation-based classes in support of The Fondle Project. Movement truly is medicine — it strengthens our bodies, reduces risk, and grounds us in gratitude for all that our bodies carry us through.

Our annual cooking demo and lunch with chef and nutritional coach Chloe Crampton is always a highlight. Chloe shared simple, healthy swaps, discussed anti-inflammatory foods, and cooked a nourishing meal for our community.

It was an afternoon centered on connection, nourishment, and education.

None of this happens alone. It takes a village — our board members, our volunteers, my assistant, my life partner Charlie, and my daughters. I couldn’t do this without them. And to all the brands who continue to support us — thank you. I’m very mindful of every partnership we form. We only collaborate with clean, sustainable, and often female-founded brands that align with our ethos. Our environment for our childrens future and what we put on our bodies matters just as much as what we put in them.

To my friends and family — thank you for standing beside me and believing in this movement from day one. Your love, encouragement, and support — whether through donations or simply spreading the word — have meant everything. Every dollar counts, and every gesture of support helps us move this mission forward. I am endlessly grateful. Fundraising, I’ll be honest, is not easy. I’m learning as I go — supported by a small but mighty team — and doing my best to lead with heart and integrity.

But I’m hopeful, and we already have some exciting new initiatives planned for 2026 that I can’t wait to share.

As October comes to a close, I want to leave you with this: the conversation doesn’t end here. Breast health is not a once-a-year topic. Early detection is prevention. Know your normal. Trust your intuition. Be your own advocate. After such a full month of events and connection, I have taken some time for myself. Taking these moments remind me how vital it is to step away and refill our own cup. Rest and reflection are as healing as movement and action.

We talk often about awareness, but awareness of our own needs matters too. Whether you’re a mama, a caregiver, or a woman holding a dozen things together — taking time for yourself is not selfish. It’s how we sustain ourselves. It’s how we keep showing up — for our families, our work, and our purpose.

I’ve pivoted from a 30-year career as a fashion stylist into the unknown — as a single mother, survivor, and founder — still healing, still evolving, still turning pain into purpose. My hope is that you continue to carve out moments to care for yourself, to move your body, and to love it — not for how it looks, but for everything it carries you through. I am here to educate women and to be strong roll model for my daughters, hopefully save a few lives along the way. Thank you for being here and for walking beside me. Together, we’re normalizing breast health, empowering women to reclaim their bodies, educating the younger generations and reminding one another — we are beautiful, we are strong, and we are still here.

With gratitude and love,

Gina

Awareness begins with us - one woman, one story, one act of courage at a time.