Heather Hackett: When the Helper Needs the Help

The beautiful woman who spent her life giving everything she had to help people through their darkest moments is now facing the darkest moment of her own life.

Heather Hackett has been diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic melanoma that has spread to her brain, liver, and lungs.

Everything has happened incredibly fast. She had a small spot removed approximately four weeks ago, and we thought that was all we would see of the melanoma. Last week, dizziness and double vision took her to the ER... And now here we are.

She has already begun radiation for the cancer in her brain and has completed the 3rd of 10 radiation treatments, with more to come.

As our family has rushed to handle everything surrounding this devastating diagnosis, we have also truly learned how deeply Heather believed in helping others.

Through Local Relief, the nonprofit she created, Heather spent years connecting people affected by disasters with resources and assistance.

She didn't just give her time. She depleted all of her own assets trying to keep Local Relief going because she believed in and cared so much about the people and community she was helping.

Now, the woman who spent her life making sure others had help is facing a fight of her own. Our goal is to give Heather every opportunity for treatment and more time with the people she loves while relieving some of the overwhelming burden that has come with this sudden crisis.

Funds will help with the extraordinary expenses surrounding her care, including medical treatment, several medical evacuations/Medivac if needed, air and ground ambulance transportation, out-of-town travel and lodging for her parents, private nursing and in-home care, medications, medical equipment, and other necessary expenses not covered by insurance.

Our family is taking this one day at a time. We are grateful for every prayer, every share, every kind word, and every person who helps us surround Heather with the same compassion she has spent so many years giving.

A little about her...

Heather was selected as the 2024 C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian Award recipient by the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation.

This wasn’t simply an award given to Local Relief—the award specifically recognized Heather for her humanitarian work.

The award has been presented to community leaders since 2005, and previous recipients have included Dick and Lorraine Vitale, Don and Vanessa Baugh, and Lee Wetherington. Heather was the 2024 recipient.

The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation described her work as humanitarian, and people involved with Local Relief publicly praised her dedication and leadership.

Her name was subsequently added to the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation’s Humanitarian Award plaque, alongside previous honorees.

Before Local Relief, Heather founded I Train Your Kids, a program focused on helping children develop healthy lifestyle habits.

She also authored two books and founded Be Me Books, a children’s publishing company focused on empowerment and confidence.

Heather has used her gifts to encourage and empower others, serve her community, and make a difference wherever she can. She has been a light to many people along the way.

Now, in her most difficult times, we have the opportunity to surround her with that same love, compassion, and support—and remind her that she does not have to walk through this hard season alone.

Thank you for being a part of her story.