After three generations of women navigating the disease, the Happ family is no stranger to breast cancer. First, it was Kathy Happ’s mother. Then her sister. Then Kathy herself. And years later, her eldest daughter heard those same life-altering words.
For many families, one diagnosis is enough to change everything. For the Happs, breast cancer became a recurring challenge—one they would face together time and again, drawing strength from one another and from the promise of scientific progress.
Today, that experience fuels their commitment to supporting breast cancer research through the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation. Because they know firsthand that research isn’t abstract. It’s personal. It’s the reason better treatments exist. It’s the reason that more patients survive. And it’s the reason families like theirs can continue to look toward the future with hope.
A Journey Marked by Resilience
Kathy’s first breast cancer diagnosis was life-changing. Like many patients, she entered a world of uncertainty filled with medical appointments, treatment decisions, and difficult questions about what would come next. Yet she faced each challenge with determination and an unwavering focus on moving forward.
Then the breast cancer came back. Again, Kathy faced it with her family by her side and made the tough decisions necessary to combat the disease.
But it returned again, for a third time.
Over the years, Kathy has endured surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and the physical and emotional toll that comes with repeated diagnoses. Each time, she has confronted the disease with remarkable strength.
For her family, watching Kathy navigate those challenges was both heartbreaking and inspiring. Through every setback, she continued to show up for the people she loved. She continued to move forward. And she continued to believe that better answers were possible.
That belief would become even more important when the disease reached the next generation.
When Breast Cancer Became Hannah’s Story
Years after Kathy’s own diagnosis, her eldest daughter Hannah was pursuing a PhD in genetics at Northwestern University when she discovered a lump.
“My mom, my sister, and I were all post-menopausal [when we were diagnosed],” Kathy recalls. “When our beautiful Hannah said, ‘Mom, I feel a lump,’ I thought, I’m sure it’s just a cyst. But that’s when the journey began for her.”
At just 27 years old, Hannah faced decisions and treatments that few young women expect to encounter. Hannah received care at Northwestern Medicine while continuing her doctoral studies. Family and friends rallied around her, creating a support system that helped carry her through some of the most difficult months of her life.
Despite the pattern of breast cancer in their family, genetic testing had not identified any of the known inherited variants associated with increased breast cancer risk. The family suspects there may still be a genetic connection—one that future research and discovery may someday help explain.
For Kathy, seeing her daughter face the same disease she had battled herself brought a new level of perspective. As a patient, she understood the fear and uncertainty. As a mother, she wished she could carry the burden herself. Instead, she did what she had always done: she showed up with strength, resilience, and hope.
Today, nearly a decade later, Hannah is thriving and working in computational biology research at the University of Utah, contributing her own expertise to advancing science and discovery.
Why Research Matters
For the Happ family, their experiences reinforced a powerful truth: every treatment, every advancement, and every improved outcome begins with research.
The therapies available to Kathy during her diagnoses existed because researchers spent years asking difficult questions and pursuing innovative ideas. The treatment options available to Hannah were built on decades of scientific discovery. For Hannah’s younger sister, Madeline, that same research is shaping a different path. Because of what scientists have learned about breast cancer risk, she is able to follow a personalized prevention program designed to detect cancer as early as possible or even help prevent it altogether.
For the Happ family, Madeline represents the promise of progress: proof that research isn’t just changing how we treat breast cancer—it’s changing what’s possible for the next generation. And the breakthroughs of tomorrow are being developed right now.
As Scott approached retirement, he and Kathy began thinking about their legacy, and how they wanted their philanthropy to create meaningful impact. They knew breast cancer research had to be a priority.
Their introduction to Lynn Sage came unexpectedly. While searching for opportunities to participate in the Chicago Marathon, Scott discovered Team Lynn Sage, the Foundation’s endurance fundraising program. What initially began as an interest in running quickly became something more.
As he learned about Lynn Sage’s mission and the researchers whose work it supports, he saw a direct connection between his family’s experiences and the Foundation’s approach to advancing breast cancer research.
“I learned about the [Lynn Sage Scholars] grant program and supporting researchers in breast cancer,” Scott says. “I thought, ‘This is so perfect.'”
What resonated most was Lynn Sage’s commitment to funding innovative researchers and investing in ideas at their earliest stages. For a family with a deep appreciation for science, it felt like a natural fit.
“We’ve always had an interest in medicine and science and health,” Kathy says. “We believe in how science can address these issues.”
Scott was especially drawn to the Foundation’s focus on supporting emerging investigators. “I really like the Lynn Sage model because it’s very specific,” he explains. “You can support that scientist, that young researcher who’s got this exciting idea.”
The Happs understand that breakthroughs don’t happen by accident. They happen because researchers are given the opportunity to explore new possibilities. They happen because someone chooses to invest in discovery before the outcome is known.
Investing in the Future
Today, the Happ family supports Lynn Sage because they believe the next breakthrough could change another family’s story.
Perhaps it will lead to earlier detection.
Perhaps it will result in more effective treatments.
Perhaps it will spare future patients from some of the challenges Kathy and Hannah endured.
Whatever form it takes, they know progress begins with research.
For Kathy, hope comes from two places. “Science gives me hope,” she says. “My family gives me hope.” Those two forces—scientific discovery and the strength of family—have carried the Happs through some of life’s most difficult moments.
And through their support of Lynn Sage, they are helping ensure that hope continues for others.