Many of you know our friend, Heather Strachan, through her tireless work in advocacy and community organizing—championing gender-based violence prevention, voting rights, refugee and immigrant rights, mental health, and disability justice. She’s also a student of International Relations and Human Rights at Drake University, whose passion for learning and connection is unmistakable.

But you may not know the rest of her story. She’s a 10 - and 7-year survivor of recurrent, metastatic endometrial cancer—a diagnosis that carries a daunting 5-year survival rate of less than 20%. Heather has defied these odds, but the journey has been anything but easy.

Surviving cancer left Heather with lasting health challenges. Since late 2022, she’s faced critical anemia requiring multiple hospital stays, procedures, and blood transfusions. She also recently underwent surgery to repair a broken arm that hadn’t healed properly due to her health challenges. Last year, Heather was diagnosed with end-stage liver damage caused by lupus and the aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatments that saved her life. Despite this, Heather is confident that proper treatment and resuming her beloved swimming routine will keep her from ever needing a liver transplant.

These health crises have taken a massive toll—physically, emotionally, and financially. Medical co-pays, lost income, and a medical leave from school have left Heather struggling to cover all the bills. She’s doing everything she can to recover, including looking for employment that accommodates her chronic conditions. However, stress and ongoing health setbacks have made it challenging to rebuild financially.

We believe in supporting one another, in showing up for our community, and in living out the principles of equity and care. Heather has devoted her life to these very ideals—fighting for justice, advocating for the vulnerable, and breaking down systemic barriers. Now, she needs us to live those values with her.

Contributions to her fundraiser will directly support:

• Housing and transportation for work, school, and medical appointments.

• Necessary medical treatments for autoimmune flares not covered by insurance.

• Reducing medical debt accrued over years of treatment and recovery.

• Finishing her degree at Drake, a promise she made to her late mother.

Heather has always given her all to help others—building bridges and sharing her story to uplift and inspire those around her.

Let’s come together to support Heather during this challenging time. Whether you can donate or help by sharing this fundraiser, every bit of support counts. Your generosity will provide her with the stability she needs to continue healing and pursuing the work that has always been at the core of who she is.

Thank you for showing up for Heather, just as she has shown up for so many of us!