Our Story: Friendship Has No Miles
The Journey Begins
In the year 2000, four women from the small towns of Ohio – Fredericktown and Mt. Vernon – found ourselves woven together by a friendship that would become far more than just a casual connection. Joan, Mary, Mandy, and Lisa – four lives intersecting in a way that none of us could have predicted.
Friendship Beyond Geography
Years passed, and life took us in different directions. Joan moved to Colorado, and I settled in Indiana. Mary and Mandy remained closer to our Ohio roots. But distance was never a barrier to our connection – a truth we would discover most profoundly during my cancer journey.
The Unexpected Diagnosis
In 2017, when I was diagnosed with cancer, our friendship was put to the ultimate test. And yet, miles apart, my friends showed up in the most extraordinary ways. Every day after my overnight chemo treatments, I would return home to find a package waiting on my doorstep – a tangible reminder that I was loved, supported, and never truly alone.
The First Warrior Bag
Before my surgery, Joan, Mandy, and Mary sent me a leather tote bag. Little did they know how prophetic that gift would be. That bag became my constant companion – carried to every doctor’s appointment and every chemotherapy treatment. It wasn’t just a bag. It was a symbol of hope, of friendship, of resilience.
More Than Just Support
We discovered that support isn’t about proximity. It’s about showing up. It’s about the small acts of love that say, ‘You are not alone.’ It’s about creating moments of light in what can feel like overwhelming darkness.
The Birth of Warrior Bags
In August 2018, born from our shared experience and my firsthand understanding of what cancer warriors truly need, Warrior Bags became more than just an organization. It became a mission. A promise. A community.
Lisa
On June 10, 2017, Lisa’s life changed forever when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Through surgery, chemotherapy, and challenging days, her faith remained her anchor. With her husband Kirk by her side as her primary caregiver, God transformed her darkest valley into a mission of hope. Now living cancer-free in Seymour, Indiana, Lisa cherishes her family – Celia, Max, and their daughter Gracie, as well as Kirk, Paxton, and their son Baker – and has turned her journey into a powerful mission of support for other warriors.
Joan
A passionate competitor driven by her love for God, Joan brings over 30 years of telecommunications and technology experience. She is commited to helping those who are hurting. Joan and her husband Dave live in Broomfield, Colorado. They enjoy visiting their adult children, Mackenzie and her husband Fabian, and Ryan, who live overseas.
Mandy
Mandy is the true definition of a warrior. After losing her father-in-law to pancreatic cancer and her husband Tommy in 2019, she understands deep loss. For 30 years, she’s worked for Knox County as a Budgetary Clerk, and now channels her nurturing spirit through Warrior Bags. She and her beloved dog Carly call Mount Vernon, Ohio home.
Mary
Inspired by her mother’s battle with breast cancer, Mary is a natural caretaker with a passion for helping others. Her love language is giving, and she’s thrilled to inspire hope through Warrior Bags. With four children, four grandchildren, and an insurance business, Mary and her husband Tim continue to serve their community in Fredericktown, Ohio.
Our Mission
Warrior Bags is more than a nonprofit. We are a community of hope, built on the belief that no cancer warrior should ever fight alone. From our humble beginnings to delivering nearly 2,000 bags across 48 states, we continue to grow, support, and live our mission: No One Fights Alone.
The Power of Friendship
What started as four friends from small Ohio towns supporting one another has become a nationwide movement of hope. We’re proof that when women show up for each other, extraordinary things can happen – no matter the miles between them.
Join Our Journey
Whether you’re a warrior, caregiver, or someone who wants to spread hope, there’s a place for you in our community.
Because warriors deserve warriors. And friendship knows no miles.