Lori Vovak  has never had breast cancer –  but it’s affected  her in the most personal of ways.

Vovak’s mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 1996, and though she beat the disease the first time around, her cancer came back in 2003. After months of battling, Vovak’s mother lost her fight in November of the same year.

That’s why she works as a volunteer with the Susan

G. Komen for the Cure.

“I think that started me wanting to do something,” Vovak said.

On New Year’s Eve of that year, Vovak and her family committed to take part in the Race For The Cure. Nine years later, the team – which includes Vovak’s son and daughter – is still going strong.

“Our little group has been getting bigger and bigger,” said Vovak, who has rallied more than 50 people from the Olympia, Tacoma and Seattle for this year’s race.

But for Vovak, raising awareness about breast cancer is more than participating in the race once a year.

“I think it was last year I just thought to myself, there’s got to be something more I can do than just doing the Race for the Cure.”

At the time, Vovak encountered a new coworker, and breast cancer survivor, and was working with the foundation. When Vovak showed interest in getting more involved, her coworker connected her with the volunteer coordinators.

“It was just amazing timing,” Vovak said.

She’s since started volunteering with the foundation on a more regular basis – stuffing bags for the race, sending mailers and handing out flyers on the Eastside. And while she admits most of the stuff she’s been working on has been behind the scenes, she’s eager to get even more involved. In fact, she said its her dream is to work for the Susan G. Komen Foundation someday.

Volunteering her time for a worthy cause is nothing new to Vovak. In addition to losing her mother to Breast Cancer, Vovak lost her husband to a rare blood disease in 1999. As, such Vovak has been raising money and volunteering with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for years.

“I just felt like – with losing so many people in my family to breast cancer and cancer diseases – I just thought, there’s gotta be something more,” Vovak said.

As far as the race goes, Vovak said her team has rallied behind the moniker “Save The Tatas” – though she admits her daughter, Emily, 14, thought they should be called “Hakuna MaTATA.”

“It’s fun to have fun with it,” Vovak said. “Because it’s sad, but you still have to keep moving forward and somehow have fun with it, too.”

Vovak said she doesn’t set a monetary goal for her team because she doesn’t want to put too much pressure on people. However, most people on the team set their own personal goals. Vovak’s personal best was $1,000.

“Which I know isn’t that much,” Vovak said. “But every penny counts.”

Keegan Prosser: 425-453-4602

kprosser@bellevuereporter.com