The NWA Metsquerade was started in 2015 by Kelli Davis and Lisa & Patrick Quinn.  Both Kelli and Lisa had been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer at a young age.  After both researching treatments, the organizers discovered that very little funding actually goes to researching metastatic (stage 4) cancers.  They joined forces and put on the inaugural NWA Metsquerade in 2016 with less than 6 months planning and raised $100,000 after event costs!  Since 2016 they have put on numerous fundraisers including 4 in person galas, 2 virtual fundraisers, multiple Runway IV Research fashion shows, a Grant Night of Giving, the national Metaribbon Challenge, and many other events.  

The NWA Metsquerade gala has spread to other places throughout the country including Chicago, IL; Minneapolis, MN; Pittsburgh, PA; Philadephia, PA; Orlando, FL; Estero, FL; Norman, NC; and Raleigh Durham, NC.  All of these events are put on by organizers who have been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and are a testament to the demand for research that the metastatic community finds most important.

Lisa Quinn passed away from stage 4 breast cancer in 2021 after living with the disease for just over 6 years.  At the time of diagnosis, the median life expectancy was 33 months.  She left behind two young children, Cooper and Karis, and her husband, Patrick.  She did everything she could during the time she was alive to bring awareness to stage 4 breast cancer and the need for more research dollars.

You can visit Metavivor Research & Support at www.metavivor.org for more information about the mission to make stage 4 breast cancer a chronic manageable disease with a good quality of life.

Thank you for raising money locally for the best research nationally.

Patrick Quinn