Meet Ashley.
Ashley Kulbacki is a 38-year-old wife, mother of two, and marathon runner whose life changed unexpectedly last May. Originally from a suburb of Atlanta, Ashley met her husband while attending Auburn University, and the two have now been married for over sixteen years. Together they are raising their son and daughter in East Brunswick, building a life centered around family, faith, and making the most of every moment together.
One evening while watching TV, Ashley felt a lump in her breast. Trusting her instincts, she quickly scheduled an appointment with her gynecologist, which led to a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. The results were concerning, and a biopsy was ordered. With the help of a family friend in Atlanta who was able to perform the biopsy sooner than appointments available in New Jersey, Ashley received the news no one expects to hear. On the last day of her children’s 7th and 4th grade school year, Ashley was diagnosed with triple positive invasive ductal carcinoma.
The diagnosis brought shock and fear, especially as Ashley thought about what treatment and uncertainty would mean for her family. Soon after, she began an intense treatment plan that would test both her physical and emotional strength. Ashley completed six rounds of chemotherapy, underwent a lumpectomy, and endured twenty rounds of radiation. Today, she continues her recovery through targeted therapy injections every three weeks, which will conclude later this year, along with daily endocrine therapy that she will take for the next ten years to significantly reduce the risk of recurrence.
One of the hardest moments for Ashley was telling her children about her diagnosis. Like many fighters, she also struggled with losing her hair and the emotional toll of not feeling like herself. But through every challenge, Ashley leaned on the people who surrounded her with love and support.
Her husband stood by her side as her rock throughout the journey, while her children gave her the motivation to keep pushing forward every single day. Family and friends carried them through the toughest moments with prayers, encouraging messages, and meals delivered when they needed it most.
Ashley has always loved staying active and spending time outdoors with her kids. Running has been a big part of her life, and she believes that her marathon training helped prepare her for the long road of cancer treatment.
She explains it best in her own words:
I truly believe my past marathon training helped prepare me for the marathon of cancer treatment. During marathon training and races, you have to dig deep, have faith, and believe in yourself. I learned just how strong my body is and strengthened my mind to persevere during trying times.
When the days felt overwhelming, Ashley focused on taking things one step at a time—one day, one week, and one month at a time. Her faith helped bring peace during moments of uncertainty and allowed her to trust that brighter days were ahead.
When we met Ashley and heard her story, we were incredibly moved by her resilience and determination to keep pushing forward for her family. As she recovered from radiation and continued treatment, Ashley shared how helpful it would be to have access to fresh, healthy meals during the recovery process.
Fightstrong Foundation was honored to support Ashley by donating an Eat Clean Bro gift card to provide nutritious meals during her recovery, along with a Walmart gift card to help with everyday needs.
Today, Ashley is cancer free, and we could not be more proud of the strength she showed throughout this journey. Her story is a powerful reminder that even in life’s most difficult battles, resilience, faith, and the love of family can carry us through.
Take things one day, one week, and one month at a time. Prioritize your health, don’t feel guilty asking for help, celebrate the everyday miracles, and lean into your faith.
We are so grateful to know Ashley and her family, and we cannot wait to see everything she continues to accomplish in the years ahead.