Getting a cancer diagnosis stops you in your tracks. That’s what happened to Karis Russell, but she wasn’t alone. The moment she got her news; her friend Tiffany was already in motion.
Karis remembers it vividly: “When I was going through cancer, the only person nearby who really stepped in for me was my friend Tiffany, a local trainer here. She raised money for me after I lost my job. I’d been let go from a local business because of my chemo treatments. Tiffany made sure my kids had everything they needed. She’s working on this new project, a closet sale, and plans to give the money she raises to a local Englewood family fighting cancer. She hasn’t found the family yet, but she’s on it.”
If you sit down with Karis, her gratitude is obvious. She says, “I’ve known Tiff for over a decade. We met at the gym, with her as the instructor and me as just another person trying to get healthier. When I told her about my diagnosis, she didn’t ask a lot of questions. She just sprang into action. She organized a fundraiser for me with t-shirts, collected donations, and made sure I had cozy things for the cancer center. After I got fired because of my chemo schedule, she was the one thinking about what my kids and I would need without me having to ask for anything.”
Karis still sounds a little stunned. “She threw a big event at her old place and raised money to help with bills and copays. I was paying copays every single week. Just having my port put in cost $750 upfront, cash. Tiffany made sure that weight didn’t land solely on me and my family.”
Tiffany understands this pain. “She’s lost family members to breast cancer too,” Karis says quietly. “So, she knows.”
It wasn’t just about dropping off a care package. “While I was at the cancer center, Tiffany and another friend from our gym would bring me lunch. She did so many things to make sure my boys and I would be okay, that I wouldn’t have to worry so much.”
When asked how all this felt, Karis’ voice cracks just a bit. “I cried, honestly. I felt so relieved. It’s just, as a mom, you’re always thinking about your kids first. Having someone else step in and take some of that weight off? It was huge. It helped a lot.”
Now, Tiffany’s keeping the momentum going. She’s launching a fundraiser called “Closet for a Cause,” a clothing sale aimed at raising money for others in the community facing cancer.
Tiffany’s plan is to keep it local. All the money goes to a family in Englewood struggling with treatment costs. “She wants to do this every year,” Karis says. “She just does things out of the goodness of her heart—she doesn’t wait to be asked. That’s the kind of person she is.”
And Karis? She’s in remission. One year cancer-free.
Tiffany herself carries this work close to her heart: “Closet for a Cause is personal,” she says. “Breast cancer is woven through my family’s life, my grandmothers, my mother, my friends. Karis is still facing breast cancer. Having been part of this community my whole life, over 25 years as a trainer and coach, I’ve built relationships here. Giving back to this place means a lot to me.”
Her reasons are to honor the women who’ve battled cancer, to connect neighbors and local businesses through something as simple as clothing, to help a family manage the overwhelming financial strain from treatment costs, missed work, daily expenses. She talks about turning gently used clothing into genuine support.
“Cancer affects so much more than your body,” Tiffany explains. “It takes a toll on a family’s finances, their routines, their peace of mind. My hope is that Closet for a Cause brings a little relief and shows a family they’re not alone. This isn’t just a clothing event. It’s a way for our community to stand together, honor those we’ve lost, support those still fighting, and make a real difference right here at home.”
She adds one last thought: “We can’t take away the diagnosis, but we can help with the stress and hardship that come with it. Thank you to everyone who helps. Whether you donate, shop, volunteer, or just spread the word, you’re turning something deeply personal into community support.”
The next Closet for a Cause happens on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m. upstairs at Freedom Fitness & Wellness in Englewood. The entire community is invited. Shop, donate, or just show up: it all helps keep this circle of care going.
Event quick facts:
When: Wednesday, October 28, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Where: Freedom Fitness & Wellness (upstairs), 2881 Placida Road, Englewood, FL
Who: Open to all; proceeds help a local breast cancer family. Hosted in partnership with Jazzercise Englewood, Venice, and Sarasota.
What: Shop or donate gently used women’s clothing, shoes, and accessories. Every purchase makes a difference.
Contact: 941-809-6128
