cancer

Cervivor’s Pap Rally & Run: A Cervical Cancer Awareness Event to Save Lives and Honor a Sister’s Legacy

By Kyle Minnis, Cervivor Communications Assistant

Cervivor’s signature Pap Rally & Run is more than a cause walk or run — it’s a movement fueled by love, loss, and a fierce commitment to saving lives from a preventable disease. 

In 2007, Cervivor Founder and Chief Visionary Tamika Felder, a 25-year cervical cancer survivor, began hosting annual walks in Washington, D.C., and New York City to raise awareness about cervical cancer. In 2014, these events were rebranded as the Pap Rally & Run and have since brought thousands of people together in support of prevention and early detection. Today, it stands as a powerful example of community-driven advocacy, uniting survivors, loved ones, and supporters around a shared purpose. 

Participants at a previous Pap Rally & Run in New York City. 

The latest Pap Rally & Run will take place on the morning of May 9, 2026, at Buddy Holly Lake Recreation Area in Lubbock, Texas. Hosted by Cervivor supporter Amy Fulton in honor of her sister, Ashley Doyle — who passed away from cervical cancer at 35, leaving behind her young son, Michael — the event carries forward a deeply personal mission with far-reaching impact.

In reaching out to Cervivor about organizing the event, Amy shared, “Ashley’s cancer was caused by HPV — something that is preventable through vaccination, routine Pap tests, and early detection. Like many families, we never imagined this would become part of our story. By the time we fully understood what was happening, our lives had already changed forever, especially for her son, who now has to grow up without his mom.”

Tamika reflects on the deeper impact of stories like Ashley’s, emphasizing how loss continues to shape families and fuel the mission behind the event:

“With Mother’s Day coming up soon, I think about the families forever changed by cervical cancer — children who have lost their mothers, and survivors who lost the chance to become one,” says Tamika, who lost her own fertility during treatment in her twenties. “That’s why the Pap Rally & Run matters. It’s about prevention, remembrance, and action. I’m proud that this movement continues to run, and honored to see Amy carry it forward in her sister’s memory.”

We spoke with Amy about her sister, what inspired her to host the event, and what she hopes others take away from participating. To learn more, register (general admission is $30), or support Cervivor’s life-saving advocacy work, visit the event page.

Q&A with Amy Fulton

Q: Can you share the story behind the Pap Rally & Run and what inspired you to start it?

A: “The Pap Rally & Run was created in honor of my sister, Ashley Doyle, who lost her battle with stage 4 cervical cancer. Ashley had a powerful desire to share her story and help other women understand the importance of prevention — but cancer took her voice before she could. I made a promise to carry that mission forward. This event is my way of giving her a voice again and turning our pain into purpose.” 

Q: How has your sister’s legacy shaped the mission and message of this event?

A: “Ashley is the heart of everything behind this event. Her strength, her love for others, and her desire to help save lives guide every decision we make. The mission is simple but powerful: awareness, prevention, and saving lives. Everything we do is rooted in what she wanted — to make sure no one else goes through what she did if it can be prevented.” 

Amy Fulton (left) with sister Ashley Doyle (right)

Q: What does the Pap Rally & Run mean to you personally?

A: “It means everything. It’s healing, it’s purpose, and it’s my way of honoring my sister every single day. It’s also a way to bring our community together for something bigger than ourselves — to fight for awareness, education, and lives that can still be saved.” 

Q: What are the main goals of the event in terms of awareness, education, and community impact?

A: “Our goals are to educate people about cervical cancer prevention, encourage regular screenings, promote the HPV vaccine, and create a supportive, informed community. We want to break the stigma, start conversations, and make sure people understand that this is preventable.” 

Q: Why is it so important for people to understand prevention methods like Pap tests and the HPV vaccine?

A: “Because cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Early detection through Pap tests and prevention through the HPV vaccine can literally save lives. The tragedy is that too many people don’t know, delay screenings, or don’t have access to information. We want to change that.”

Amy (right) with sister Ashley (left) after shaving her head in support during Ashley’s cervical cancer treatment.

Q: What has the response been like from your community so far?

A: “The support has been incredible. From local businesses donating, to volunteers stepping up, to people sharing the message — it’s been overwhelming in the best way. Our community has truly rallied around this cause, and it shows how much people care.” 

Q: What would you say to someone who is hesitant or overdue for screening?

A: “I would say — please go. Do it for yourself, your family, your future. I know it can be uncomfortable or easy to put off, but early detection can save your life. My sister didn’t get that chance. You still do.” 

Q: For those interested in hosting their own Pap Rally & Run, what steps should they take to get started?

A: “Start with your ‘why.’ Build a small team, connect with local organizations, secure a location, and start spreading awareness. You don’t need perfection — you just need passion. Even a small event can make a big impact.” 

Q: What kind of support or resources are available for communities looking to organize their own event?

A: “Organizations like Cervivor provide incredible resources, support, and education. There are also local health departments, nonprofits, and community leaders who are often willing to help. And I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned along the way.” 

Q: How can people get involved with your upcoming event?

A: “There are so many ways to get involved — register to run or walk, volunteer your time, donate, sponsor, or even help spread the word. Every single effort matters. We’re also welcoming businesses that want to contribute or be part of the event.” 

Amy and Ashley during happier days. Amy says that hosting the upcoming event is her way of honoring a promise to Ashley to raise awareness about HPV and the importance of cervical cancer prevention.

Q: What message do you hope participants take away after attending the Pap Rally & Run?

A: “I hope they leave empowered, informed, and inspired to take action — whether that’s scheduling a screening, encouraging someone they love, or continuing to spread awareness. If one life is saved because of this event, it’s all worth it.” 

Q: Is there anything else you’d like readers to know about your journey or this event?

A: “This journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s been meaningful. Grief turned into purpose, and purpose turned into action. Ashley’s story isn’t over — it’s just being told in a different way now. And if sharing it helps even one person, then her legacy lives on exactly the way she would have wanted.” 

Host Your Own

Inspired by Amy’s example? Email us to learn how you can host your own Pap Rally & Run in your community — and help turn awareness into action through education, remembrance, and prevention.

About the Author

The image is a portrait of a young man with dark skin and short, curly black hair. He is wearing a blue collared shirt and black-framed glasses, and is smiling at the camera. The man has dark skin and short, curly black hair. His hair is cut close to his head, with a slight fade at the sides. His eyebrows are thick and well-groomed. He is wearing a blue collared shirt. The shirt is a medium blue color and appears to be made of a lightweight material. It has a relaxed fit and is buttoned up to the top. He is also wearing black-framed glasses. The frames are rectangular in shape and have a subtle curve at the temples. The lenses are clear and do not appear to have any tint or coating. The man is smiling at the camera. His smile is wide and genuine, showing off his white teeth. His eyes are crinkled at the corners, giving him a friendly and approachable appearance. The background of the image is a plain gray color. The gray is a medium tone, neither too light nor too dark. It provides a neutral backdrop that allows the subject to stand out. Overall, the image presents a friendly and approachable young man who appears to be confident and comfortable in front of the camera

Kyle Minnis is a recent graduate of Strategic Communications at the University of Kansas with a passion for digital media, storytelling, and audience engagement. He has experience in content strategy and media production. Kyle is especially interested in the intersection of media, branding, and digital growth.

Happy 20th Birthday, HPV Vaccine: A Love Letter on International HPV Awareness Day 2026

By Sara Lyle-Ingersoll, Cervivor Communications Director

Happy 20th birthday, HPV vaccine!

Two decades is a big deal. Cervivor marked the same milestone last year, so we know a bit about what 20 years of impact feels like.

We still remember the excitement in 2006 when the first HPV vaccine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The news made the cover of Time magazine and the front page of The New York Times. But it wasn’t just another medical headline — it was a major scientific breakthrough. The idea that we could prevent cervical cancer before it ever started felt revolutionary. The hope was palpable.

Which makes today, International HPV Awareness Day — part of the International Papillomavirus Society‘s (IPVS) annual campaign to promote HPV prevention, screening, and care — a fitting moment to say happy birthday, thank you, and keep up the good work. Consider this our love letter to you, HPV vaccine. 

Why We Love You

Let’s start with the obvious: You prevent cancer.

Not symptoms. Not severity. Cancer. 

HPV is incredibly common — about 80% of people will be infected at some point in their lives. Most infections clear on their own, but some persist and can lead to cancer. Globally, HPV causes nearly all cervical cancers and contributes to cancers of the anus, oropharynx (throat), vulva, vagina, and penis. Together, HPV-related cancers account for more than 720,000 new cancer cases and roughly 350,000 deaths worldwide each year. 

When you were first approved in 2006, you protected against four HPV types, including types 16 and 18, which cause the majority of cervical cancers. Today’s version protects against nine HPV types: seven responsible for about 90% of cervical cancers, plus two that cause most genital warts. That’s pretty badass. Pardon our language.

Because prevention works best before infection occurs, vaccination is recommended between age 11 and 12, and can be given as early as 9. In this video for HPV Day 2026, IPVS envisions a world free from the cancer-causing virus — made possible in large part by you. 

Your Track Record Speaks for Itself

More than half a billion doses of the HPV vaccine have been given out worldwide, and decades of safety monitoring across multiple countries continue to confirm that you are safe. 

Any side effects are typically mild and temporary, and serious reactions are rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and numerous independent reviews consistently affirm your safety.

And are you effective? Heck, yes! The data is just as strong. 

Countries with high vaccination coverage — think Australia, Rwanda, Sweden — have documented dramatic declines in HPV infections, genital warts, and high-grade cervical precancers among young people. 

This is no longer about projections or promises. The receipts are in. Here are just a few: 

  • A landmark 2020 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that Swedish girls vaccinated before age 17 had an 88% lower risk of cervical cancer compared to unvaccinated peers. 
  • In the U.K., research published in The Lancet in 2021 showed nearly a 90% reduction in cervical cancer among women vaccinated between 12 and 13.
  • In the U.S., a 2025 CDC analysis of 2008–2022 data found that cervical precancers among women 20 to 24 — the first generation routinely vaccinated — declined by roughly 80%.

That’s measurable progress and lives saved. Wow, just wow. 

U.S. rates of moderate to severe cervical precancers (CIN2+ and CIN3+) declined sharply from 2008 to 2022 among women 20 to 24 — the first generation routinely vaccinated against HPV. 

We Know It Hasn’t Always Been Easy

From the beginning, you carried more than a syringe and a schedule. You carried stigma — something anyone affected by a below-the-belt cancer understands all too well.

Because HPV is transmitted through intimate contact, conversations about the vaccine have often been wrapped up in discomfort, misinformation, and politics. Some struggle discussing a sexually transmitted virus with preteens. Others falsely claim you’re a “permission slip” for promiscuity. 

At the recent 2026 Cervical Cancer Summit — while unpacking your complicated history — Chief Medical Officer of the Association of Immunization Managers Michelle Fiscus, MD, FAAP, shared an old cartoon poking fun at the promiscuity myth. It showed a young girl receiving the HPV vaccine and saying, “I am so turned on right now.” The joke landed because the premise was so absurd.

A vaccine does not change a child’s values or lifestyle choices. It reduces their risk of cancer. Full stop.

At the 2026 Summit, Association of Immunization Managers CMO Michelle Fiscus emphasized that “misinformation remains one of our biggest barriers,” calling the promiscuity myth “farcical.”

In Case You Need to Hear This

Progress hasn’t been perfect — but that’s not on you. 

Vaccination rates vary widely by region and community. In the U.S., HPV vaccination coverage among adolescents continues to improve, but it still trails other routine adolescent vaccines like Tdap and meningococcal, according to the CDC. Research shows that a strong provider recommendation is one of the biggest factors in increasing HPV vaccination.

Globally, cervical cancer disproportionately affects women in low- and middle-income countries, where access to both vaccination and screening can be limited. The WHO’s strategy to eliminate the disease as a public health problem calls for 90% of girls to be fully vaccinated against HPV by age 15.

It’s simple math: The more people who receive you, the more lives will be saved from HPV-related cancers — which is why we’re your hype girl today and every day. 

For HPV Day, the IPVS shares a message of unity. 

Keep On Keeping On!

HPV vaccine, you have given us a tool that previous generations couldn’t even dream of. 

Twenty years ago, approving the first HPV vaccine was an act of scientific courage and public health ambition. Today, the challenge is simpler — and harder. We have to use it.

Reflecting on the momentum of the first National HPV Conference last April, Cervivor Founder and Chief Visionary Tamika Felder said, “Knowledge is power, but this is just the start. Preventable cancers like cervical cancer are on the rise because of complacency, stigma, and misinformation. The time to prevent suffering — and save lives from cervical and other HPV-related cancers — is now.”

Your moment is now. 

Happy 20th birthday to a vaccine that prevents cancer.

Here’s to a future when a cervical cancer diagnosis or, worse, a death is ancient history. 

P.S. Congratulations to the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program on five years of saving lives by increasing HPV vaccination rates! We couldn’t be prouder to call you a partner.

About the Author

SARA LYLE-INGERSOLL is a content and communications expert dedicated to transforming lived experiences into impactful stories. Her award-winning magazine feature about a close friend who passed from cervical cancer in their twenties led her to connect with Cervivor’s founder, Tamika Felder, and solidified her commitment to cervical cancer awareness and prevention. Now, as Cervivor’s Communications Director, Sara brings this mission full circle.