When the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Ocean City was canceled due to a nor’easter, a South Jersey family refused to let the weather dampen their efforts to support one of their own.
What began as a planned team walk for the event transformed into a heartfelt gathering of family and friends, organized in less than 48 hours, to honor and uplift Jenny Glass during her ongoing fight with breast cancer.
In October 2024, Glass — originally from the area but now living outside Nashville, Tennessee with her husband — was undergoing IVF treatments when she discovered a lump that led to a diagnosis of triple-positive breast cancer.
Over the past year, she has endured chemotherapy, mastectomies, reconstruction and now continues maintenance treatments that will extend for several years.
Despite being more reserved, she chose to step forward and organize a group under the name “Jenny’s Fight Club” to participate in the annual breast cancer walk.
Family and friends rallied immediately, ordering team T-shirts and making plans to walk the Ocean City Boardwalk together. Loved ones even traveled from Florida and Georgia.
But on Friday, Oct. 10, two days before the event, forecasts worsened and organizers of the Making Strides walk postponed the event due to safety concerns. Eventually, the walk was canceled.
Rather than give up, Glass’ family sprang into action. Her mother, Diane Ross, and other relatives began making phone calls, searching for a space large enough to host 60 to 70 supporters.
“We just started brainstorming… we were going to do something, [but] we didn’t know what. I live in a two-bedroom condo on Bay Avenue in Somers Point. We just didn’t have enough space,” Ross said.
After several phone calls, Glass’ father, who knows members of the Somers Point Fire Department (SPFD), contacted the department. Sure enough, SPFD opened its doors to them, offering shelter and a chance to gather despite the weather.
By late Saturday afternoon, the family was decorating the hall and coordinating food, games and music.
Pink decorations, handwritten messages of encouragement and tables filled with treats created a vibrant atmosphere.
On Sunday morning, as rain and wind swept the coast, more than 60 people arrived — parents, friends, childhood classmates, elderly relatives and young children — filling the fire hall with laughter and support.
The event quickly became more than a substitute gathering. Children climbed into fire trucks for photos, attendees danced and played games, and guests wrote heartfelt notes of encouragement for Glass on a long roll of pink paper.
Elderly relatives who would not have been able to walk the boardwalk were able to spend the full day supporting Glass amongst loved ones.
Despite the storm outside, the atmosphere inside was joyful and hopeful. Ross said the event, which went from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:30 p.m., served as a reminder of how loved her daughter is.
“It was better than any of us ever expected and everybody just went out so happy. It was just so nice to see my daughter’s very, very well loved in the family and that everybody was there to support her,” Ross said.
Through donations from attendees, Jenny’s Fight Club raised approximately $5,000 for breast cancer support.
After navigating IVF and cancer simultaneously, Glass continues treatment while she and her husband are now planning to have a child via surrogate.
Julia is a recent Rider University graduate, where she studied multiplatform journalism and social media strategies. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, trying new coffee shops, photography and the beach. She can be reached at juliatrainmedia@gmail.com or connect with her on Instagram @juliatrain
