Founder’s Message
I am Kimberly S. Peterson, and my journey with cancer began at a young age when I learned that it does not discriminate. The news of my mother’s cancer diagnosis was one of the most devastating moments of my life. At just twenty years old, I was confronted with the harsh reality that age offers no immunity from this disease, especially when my mother, in her late thirties, was diagnosed.
The ordeal began in September 2012 following her hysterectomy, and her condition rapidly deteriorated. Initially, we believed some of her symptoms were typical, but we soon realized they were anything but. In October 2012, she received her diagnosis, and after a courageous six-month battle, she became my guardian angel.
Life was forever changed, but rather than succumb to despair, I chose to channel my grief into a mission to support others facing similar challenges. I began by assisting individuals in accessing screenings, promoting a sense of beauty and health, raising awareness, and teaching coping strategies to friends and family.
As I envisioned my organization, I found myself uncertain yet determined to honor my mother’s memory and legacy. I established The Sonia D. Peterson Foundation with clear goals: to educate the community on the importance of regular screenings for diseases, to enhance awareness about cancer, and to emphasize the critical nature of early detection.
It was my purpose…
"I understood that the grief from my mother’s passing needed to inspire me to pursue my purpose in life. It became clear that I had to initiate something in her honor, something that would offer others the support I wished I had during that difficult time. Guided by divine inspiration, I discovered that my calling lies in cancer advocacy.”
— Kimberly Peterson