Audrie Caracciola has always been a force of nature. For the past eight years, she has dedicated her time and energy to Go With Courage, an organization close to her heart. But her journey with the local group didn’t start with volunteering—it began with a deeply personal battle of her own.

Ten years ago, Audrie was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her children were young, still students at the Sid Jacobson JCC in East Hills, a place that became an unexpected lifeline. “I had this incredible support system,” Audrie remembers. Family, friends, and her community wrapped around her, holding her up through the toughest days of her treatment. “It made all the difference. I realized not everyone has that, and I wanted to make sure they did.”

It was through a fellow JCC member that Audrie first heard about Go With Courage, an organization founded in 2011 by Robyn Jaslow, who had her own story of facing cancer.  The phrase came from a relative who urged Robyn to "go with courage" during her two years of breast cancer treatments. Those words became her mantra, eventually becoming the name of the charity.

Robyn wasn’t just raising money for hospitals; she was creating a network that offered practical support to cancer patients and their families—everything from meals and rides to treatment, to tutoring for kids and installing ramps in homes. “I saw the kind of impact she was making, and I wanted to be a part of it,” Audrie said. Even though she hadn’t been a direct recipient of the organization’s help during her own cancer battle, she knew firsthand how crucial it was to have a strong support system.

Audrie began volunteering, using her own experience as a driving force. Over the years, she’s seen how Go With Courage doesn’t just stop at offering help—they build connections. “It’s the most rewarding part,” she said. “You see someone go through such a tough time, and then when they’re better, they come back to help. That full circle is just incredible.”

As Audrie became more involved, so did her family. Her kids took the initiative to get involved too, running everything from fantasy football leagues to March Madness competitions to raise money for Go With Courage. Her oldest son, Matan, even took on the role of Journal Chair for their annual luncheon, a role she was particularly proud of. “We live in a privileged community,” Audrie admitted, “and it was important for them to see how much good they could do by giving back.”

For Audrie, courage has taken on a new meaning since her diagnosis. “It’s about doing whatever you can to brighten someone’s day during the hardest time of their life,” she shared. And that’s what Robyn has created—a place where people could come together, help one another, and, in the process, create a community of care and compassion.

“Robyn gives everything she has to this cause,” Audrie said, “and the work she’s done has impacted so many families. I’m proud to be even a small part of it.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming Go With Courage events—the shopping fundraisers in Roslyn and Manhasset (see sidebar) and the annual luncheon in May—Audrie can’t help but feel excited. Not just for the events themselves, but for the chance to continue paying it forward, for the opportunity to help even more families feel as supported as she had been.

After all, that's what it is all about—using the power of community and compassion to lift one another up. And Audrie is ready to keep going, with courage.

Please visit www.gowithcourage.org to see how you can also get involved. 

**SIDEBAR**

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Mark your calendars for two local special events that benefit Go with Courage.

October 16th: 10am - closing

A “Day of Courage” Shopping Event in Roslyn Village. Participating stores will donate 20% of their profits to Go With Courage.

October 18th and 19th: 1pm-4pm 

Go With Courage has been selected as the beneficiary of a two-day breast cancer event at Scanlan Theodore at the Americana in Manhasset.