Viva Las Chicas is a breast cancer awareness, education, and support group born out of the desire of a few to touch the lives of many.
We hold monthly awareness events, reaching out to our community on a one-to-one basis. Our goal is to educate, empower, and enlighten the women of the Tampa Bay area with regard to self care, and if needed their options and resources for assistance. What begins as the simple act of pinning a pink ribbon on someone often becomes a conversation that can save a life. These events have been held at St Petersburg's Saturday Morning Market, the St. Pete Pier, the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, USF, Downtown Tampa, ABC Fine Wines and Spirits, and Foodies, among others. We hold these awareness events at a variety of venues to impact a broad spectrum of the Tampa Bay population.
We have support and participate in events such as the LiveSTRONG Challenge, Breast Cancer 3-Day, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, BMW Drive for the Cure, Relay for Life and many more.
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 Viva Las Chicas board members at the National Breast Cancer Coalition Advocacy Conference 2008 |
 Team Viva Las Chicas at the Tampa Bay Breast Cancer 3-Day, 2009 |
Our mission is threefold. First, to provide the tools, knowledge, and resource information needed to ensure early detection, and to provide resource information in the event of a diagnosis of breast cancer. Second, to provide support, encouragement and compassion to those currently battling breast cancer and their families. Third, to work hand-in-hand with organizations such as Komen For the Cure, The American Cancer Society, Lance Armstrong Foundation and others to raise awareness and funds for research into a cure for this hideous disease.
Viva Las Chicas hopes and prays for a world free of breast cancer. Until that day comes, we will do all that is in our power to give people the tools they need to live a long, happy, and above all healthy life.
Before there was Viva las Chicas (VLC) there was just “A Chica” who wanted something different for her birthday. That request was that her family and friends join her on a 60-mile walk, raise over $12,000 and give rather than receive. And, in two months five courageous woman did just that, they are Viva Las Chicas translated as “Long Live the Ladies”.
 The “Original” five Chicas |
VLC Founder and Board Member Amberlea Moody is the original "Chica", a nickname she picked up traveling in search of education and adventure in Europe. After returning from Europe, Amberlea was forced to deal with the fact that her grandfather was in the final stages of colon cancer. Amberlea had already lost her father to Melanoma when she was just sixteen. She was at wits end, angry, feeling hopeless, and wasn't sure what to do next. About that time, Amberlea began to hear advertisements for the 2002 Breast Cancer 3-Day. While she knew she couldn't change losing her father, or the looming loss of her grandfather, this event was a way for her to focus her energies, and raise money and awareness about a cause near and dear to her heart, CANCER. Once the first steps of that walk from Boca Raton to Miami, Florida were taken, Amberlea was hooked. She knew she had to channel the good energy and spirit of the 3-Day into something useful and effective. |
VLC started doing community awareness and college visits, talking about breast self-exams and getting the word out about the importance of early detection. Before she knew it, VLC was alive and growing. VLC's first awareness event was at Janis Landing in the fall of 2002. VLC was joined by Sue Zelenko and Tampa's Bay’s 10. From there it was on to downtown Tampa and wherever VLC felt they could spread the word effectively. In November 2004, VLC made the decision to become a 501-C3 non-profit and began the paperwork to make that happen. VLC realized there was a need for more education; more awareness and our community needed support. We were connecting people to programs and networking for the under-insured. We saw more and more people we knew being diagnosed and struggling to make ends meet. From here, VLC began our real community work. |
 First awareness day, Janis Landing, downtown St. Petersburg. |
In 2006, VLC completed the process of becoming a 501-C3 non-profit. In 2007, VLC has started touching the community in new ways. VLC has reached out to a family in crisis by providing basic services such as laundry to give a family the time it so desperately needs to spend together. We hope to expand that part of our service to our community in the coming years. As our membership grows and our volunteer base expands, we will be able to touch the lives of so many more women and families that are battling breast cancer.
