The Founder - Priscilla Bordogna

Priscilla Bordogna, born and raised in the Pittsburgh area, is a 2006 La Roche College graduate with a degree in Marketing. She is a member of the Pittsburgh Young Professionals (PYP) and the National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC). Priscilla came up with an idea to start an organization while creating a benefit to raise awareness and funds for Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation. Run 2 Inspire was started in October 2007, one year after her best friend Katharine Hoffmann was diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age of 23. Priscilla is a strong advocate and would like to educate young men and women and their parents on HPV and cervical cancer, as well as aid women in the Tri-State area who are suffering from this devastating disease.

Her Inspiration - Katharine Hoffmann

Katharine Hoffmann is a Pittsburgh native and currently resides in Philadelphia working as a Paralegal and a Philadelphia Cancer Writer for the Examiner.com.  She is a member of the Philadelphia Young Professionals (PYP) and the Philadelphia Association of Paralegals (PAP).  In 2006, Katharine was diagnosed with Stage IIA cervical cancer.  Since then, she has become a proud member of the National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC), serving as the Director of the Pennsylvania Chapter.  In her spare time, Katharine is an active athlete and a member of the Philadelphia Sport and Social Club, playing soccer and dek hockey and participating in national dek hockey tournaments across the country.

Friendship Through Priscilla's Eyes

Katy and I met in junior high school during track season. We both ran the hurdles; Katy, I have to admit, was better than me only because her legs were longer than mine. (I ended up getting the nickname"Stumpy".) We ran together for five years, and I was made honorary captain during her senior year since I was still a junior. We managed to stay friends after she graduated high school, and when she started college, I was made honorary college student.

By the end of my first year of college, Katy's life had been turned upside down through the loss of her mother that summer. It took her about two years to get out of the depression. Just when she thought the coast was clear, in October 2006 I received a similarly heartbreaking call – this time to tell me she had cervical cancer. My heart sank, and I was scared. I thought I was going to lose her. What I didn't know at the time was that cervical cancer is treatable if caught in time.

Unfortunately for Katy, the cancer went to stage 2A in a matter of three months. For the next year, she battled with this disease, afraid to tell anyone she had it... afraid that people would look at her differently or that they would disown her as a friend. But not me. I managed to keep her spirits up even if they were down. I managed to keep our friendship going even when she thought there was nothing left in her life that was good.

I had to be the one person that was stable in her life, when everything else was falling apart. She started to do intensive chemotherapy, and the progress of the cancer slowly started to show. Katy finally got her voice out there with the help of her best friend. I’m so proud of her! I’m so proud that she was able to fight and overcome every obstacle God seems to place in front of her. She started to take a stand, get the word out about Cervical Cancer, and let young women know the facts. "When it hurts to look back and your scared to look ahead you can look beside you and your best friend will be there."

Friendship Through Katharine's Eyes

At some point in your life, you will come across one person who has touched your heart and changed your life. Whether it is a co-worker, a friend from school, or a stranger you meet off the street – he or she will have done something, in some remarkable way that will stay with you forever. For me, that person is Priscilla, my best friend of 13 years.

Our friendship began in junior high, running the hurdles in track and field. Since then, we have endured some of life’s most challenging moments together. From relationships and breakups, to holidays and birthdays, to helping me cope with the loss of my mother, we have supported each other in ways other friends wouldn’t know how.

When I was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2006, Priscilla ultimately became my support system and caregiver. My diagnosis has truly tested our friendship. I struggled with my cancer many times. It made me vulnerable to the point that I took our friendship for granted. But Priscilla saw right through me and never gave up. The moments I gave up on myself and our friendship were the moments she fought for me.

In 13 years you can graduate from school, get married and have a family. In 13 years I have built this priceless friendship with Priscilla. That is something most people don’t get to experience in their lifetime. Robert Louis Stevenson said, “A friend is a gift you give yourself.” I gave myself the best gift (and the best friend) I could ever imagine, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else in this world.