WIB - Fast Cars, Chemo Chairs and Everything in Between

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Join Jill Swanson founder of Lemons of Love, as she shares her journey of taking charge of her own fate after being diagnosed with colon cancer. She had already dominated in a male dominated industry which lead her to know she could dominate this challenge as well. Not only did she create a support network she took her new found passion and created a 501c3 to help ease the journey for others diagnosed in the future.

Jill Swanson

For 30 years, I have been part of F.A.S.T. (Fresh Air Systems Technologies), and in 2005 I became the CEO of F.A.S.T. We manufacture blowers, filters, and cooling suits to keep racers, sports enthusiasts, and surgeons cool in extreme situations.

I was a successful woman in a male dominated industry, and then in 2014, everything changed. I was diagnosed with colon cancer. I underestimated the impact this diagnosis would have on me. I realized that no matter how big of a support network you have, cancer is a lonely business. What I needed was to connect with other patients who understood what I was going through.

I began filling tote bags with items that had helped me manage some of treatment’s side effects, and began sharing the care packages every time I went for treatment. I felt like I was taking the lemons that life handed me and making the sweetest lemonade I could. Lemons of Love was born. Today, Lemons of Love is a 501(c)3 non-profit organizations whose mission is to share love with those impacted by cancer. We have shared over 23,000 care packages worldwide and built 2 cancer support centers (one in Mount Prospect, IL and one in Plymouth, WI).