Building Hope Together: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Habitat Home Build

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Habitat Home Build

This October, women leaders from across Tampa Bay will have a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on two important causes through one remarkable experience.

Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside and the American Cancer Society are partnering for the inaugural Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Habitat Home Build, a special fundraising and volunteer event taking place October 7-8, 2026. The collaboration brings together affordable homeownership and the fight against breast cancer, uniting community leaders around a shared mission of hope, resilience, and opportunity.

A Build Centered on Hope

At the heart of this special build is future Habitat homeowner Amanda Bergmann and her daughters. After being diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a form of blood cancer, in 2022, Amanda endured extensive treatment, including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. Today, she is in remission and partnering with Habitat to achieve the dream of affordable homeownership. Her journey embodies the strength, perseverance, and hope that both organizations strive to inspire every day.

Where Service Meets Purpose

The idea for this unique partnership emerged from conversations between Mike Sutton, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside, and Helen Wesley, Executive Chair of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Tampa Bay. Together, they envisioned an event that would bring women together through service, philanthropy, leadership, and community impact.

The result is more than a traditional volunteer event. Participants will have the opportunity to build alongside fellow business and community leaders while supporting the missions of both organizations. No construction experience is required, and Habitat’s professional construction team will provide all necessary training and guidance.

As Helen shared in an invitation to community leaders, the build is about more than constructing a house. It’s about creating stability for a family, supporting individuals affected by breast cancer, and demonstrating the power of collective impact when women come together around a common purpose.

Join the Movement

Women, businesses, teams, and community organizations can participate through Individual Builder and Duo Builder sponsorship opportunities, with proceeds supporting both Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside and the American Cancer Society. These opportunities are designed to help participants build meaningful relationships with other purpose-driven leaders while making a tangible difference in the community.

Participants can choose from:

• Individual Builder Sponsor: Includes one volunteer build-day participant and an exclusive networking experience alongside fellow women executives and community leaders.
• Duo Builder Sponsor: Includes two volunteer build-day participants, allowing participants to share the experience with a colleague, client, emerging leader, friend, or family member over the age of 16.

Part of a Larger Mission

The Habitat Home Build expands the reach of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Tampa Bay movement beyond its annual fundraising walk. The movement will culminate on October 24, 2026, at Raymond James Stadium, where thousands of survivors, caregivers, advocates, volunteers, and supporters will gather to raise funds and awareness in the fight against breast cancer.

Together, these events represent a powerful reminder that when communities unite around shared values, they can create meaningful change for families facing housing challenges and individuals navigating cancer diagnoses.

Get Involved

Whether you’re a business leader, community advocate, survivor, supporter, or someone looking for a meaningful way to give back, the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Habitat Home Build offers a unique opportunity to support two missions through one unforgettable experience.

Learn more and register: info.habitattbg.org/making-strides