Colleen Case has faced challenge after challenge over the past five years.

Colleen lost her job of nearly 15 years in December 2020 when Allstate cut thousands of employees as part of a restructuring plan. Then, USF Holland, where her husband, Nathan, worked as a truck driver, filed for bankruptcy and abruptly closed its Warren plant in July 2023. Just a few months later, Colleen’s father was diagnosed with bladder cancer.

The Case family was just starting to recover when Colleen felt like something was “off” with her body. She was diagnosed with Stage 3 Triple Positive breast cancer in June 2024.

The 1997 Howland High School graduate has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and shots to keep her white blood count stable, a double mastectomy and 30 rounds of radiation. She still must take daily estrogen medication.

She has tried to keep life as normal as possible for her children, Avery, 16, and Jackson, 15. She attended Jackson’s soccer games and Avery’s dance competitions and cheerleading activities at John F. Kennedy Catholic School, even when her aggressive chemo treatments made her hair fall out and zapped her strength.

But the financial strain of her diagnosis is taking a toll on the family that she cannot hide.

Colleen, now a commercial lines account manager for Paige & Byrnes Insurance, and Nathan, a former U.S. Marine who now transports vehicles for Cassens Transport Company in Lordstown, both have missed weeks of work due to her treatments. They are now facing thousands of dollars in medical expenses due to copayments, deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses that medical insurance doesn’t cover.

The family has canceled vacations, cut back on after-school activities and reduced their daily purchases as much as possible. But they still can only pay the minimums on the medical bills that continue to arrive.

On Sept. 27, This Means War Against Breast Cancer, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization, will host the 15th annual War Against Breast Cancer Raffle-Auction at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds as a fundraiser to help Colleen with her medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses.

The family-friendly event will feature more than 300 items up for bid, Cow Patty Bingo, live music, food trucks, sweet treats and a meet-and-greet with princesses and superheroes. Admission and parking are free.

More details about the event are available at waragainstbreastcancer.com/fundraiser.