We love that Newcastle is home to friendly and considerate people and feels extremely safe any day of the week. We are both able to thrive in our hobbies best in Newcastle. Danny is an avid golfer, so having access to a wonderful course and range nearby is ideal. I’m  a competitive triathlete, so the YMCA serves as a perfect stomping ground to perfect my swim year-round, the friendly roads with easy access to country roads and bike paths allow me to get loads of miles right out the front door, and multiple running paths nearby serve as safe havens to put my feet to the pavement. When we're not engaged in our most-loved hobbies, we both enjoy amazing careers in technology with Redmond-based companies. Danny is the CTO at Wildlife Computers, a company that manufactures GPS tags for wildlife, and I work in Digital Advertising at Microsoft. Despite our very full lives between careers and hobbies, the thing most precious to us in our lives is our family, friends that are family, and our two mini-dachshunds, Joie and Arden. We'll drop everything to support our loved ones and pride ourselves on being the "cool" auntie and uncle to our many nieces and nephews. 

Our Community Involvemment & Northwest Hope and Healting

At 40 years old and at the peak of my physical fitness heading into my 11th triathlon season, I went in for my very first annual mammogram. It was anything but routine as it was immediately apparent that something was very wrong. Within a week it was confirmed; I had breast cancer. My first initial reaction was anger. Pure rage at how unfair this was. I was young. I was fit. I had always done my best to take care of myself. Why me? One of my doctors told me she was relieved to hear my feelings of anger because anger sparks action, so she knew I was about to fight hard. And that's exactly what I did. This diagnosis was not going to take everything from me. I was determined about that. So head-first we dove into what felt like a million appointments for consultation, planning, pre-surgery, surgery, post-surgery, chemotherapy, check-ups, and so on for a total of about a year. As I sat in waiting room after waiting room, I started to notice something. The something was that not everyone looked like me. Of course we all look different physically, but it was something else. There was a stark difference between me with my incredible insurance, compassionate employer, and deep support system and others who were clearly struggling in one or all of these areas. It made me feel both very blessed and very undeserving at the same time. ALL of us received an unfair diagnosis. Why am I blessed with all the resources and support and others are not? Again, it made me angry. And again, that anger sparked action. We are big believers that everything happens for a reason. I had been asking "why" every day since diagnosis. And I was tired of waiting for an answer that may never come. I told Danny that this diagnosis can't just be something bad that happened in our lives. We have to turn it into something good. And that is how the idea to create goodness out of a bad situation went from a spark to a flame.

On July 1st 2021, I was about to undergo the first and biggest of a few surgeries in my treatment, a double mastectomy. My surgeon, Dr. Christine Lee, asked "Any final questions?" Danny asked her what her favorite breast cancer charity was. She said that was the easiest question she had to answer all day and told us about Northwest Hope & Healing, a local charity that provides financial support and resource to breast and gynecological patients. "And I'm on the board!" she added. Done. That was where our fundraising efforts were going. I was wheeled back, nervous, but with a greater purpose.

One week later, as I was recovering from surgery on the couch, Danny brought his laptop to me and showed me a brand-new website he had just finished  - PinkRibbonArmy.com. The site said we were planning a golf tournament and a 5K. He clicked on the About Us section and there we were. He had created the vehicle for our purpose as I lay there recovering. The Pink Ribbon Army, an Army Against Breast Cancer, was born!

With our purpose, a website, and a benefactor that delivered exactly the kind of good we wanted to provide locked into place, we pressed on quickly with family and friends to pull off the event. Just two weeks after I finished my final round of chemotherapy, the 1st Annual Pink Ribbon Army Golf Tournament and 5K fundraiser was held on October 30th, 2021. We were over the moon to be able to present Northwest Hope & Healing with a check for $35,000. 

A few months later, Kelly completed her final step with reconstructive surgeries, received a clean bill of health, and was cleared to resume normal activities in April of 2022. She immediately got back in the pool, on the bike, and into her favorite running shoes. She made her full come-back race debut in July of 2023 at the Oregon Ironman 70.3, followed by the 2023 Ironman 70.3 World Championship held in Lahti, Finland. Today, Kelly remains gratefully cancer-free.

After 3 years, Pink Ribbon Army has donated over $140,000 to Northwest Hope & Healing, becoming the organization's largest private donor in their 24-year history. And we aren't stopping there!

We raise money all year long, but our major fundraiser each year lands fittingly in October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year will be our 4th Annual Pink Ribbon Army Golf Tournament, 5k and 1k Run/Walk! It all takes place on October 6th, 2024, at the famed Chambers Bay Golf Course in Tacoma, WA. 

Here are all the event day options:

Ways to get involved:

Fun Facts about us:

I have competed in 19 Ironman 70.3 triathlons, 2 of which were Ironman 70.3 World Championships, and 3 full Ironman triathlons, with my eye on a 4th in 2025.

We’ve been together since early 2003, married in 2017.

-Danny, as in all circumstances and all ways, was a steadfast source of support, comfort, compassion, and love throughout every step of my cancer journey. His role as a caretaker could never be overstated and is, in fact, impossible to do it justice in describing.

Our favorite Newcastle spots and why we love them:

-The Coalman - Best coffee in town, the perfect place for a date night, with an incredible wine list and seasonal menus, the ambiance Newcastle needed!

-B&E Meat & Seafood - High-quality meats and seafood, to-die-for candied salmon, top-notch service with a smile!

-Polished Salon & Spa - Talented technicians, convenient booking process, accommodating service, comfortable and relaxing setting!

-Loco Chon - Best Mexican food in the Puget Sound, best margaritas, friendly staff, best take-out option!

-Animal Hospital of Newport Hills - They treat our pets like their own family, super convenient service, diligent follow-ups, attentive and comforting team!