About Us

Courtney Lercara-Zinszer
Founder- Pink Wings

Pink Wings For Breast Cancer
My name is Courtney Lercara-Zinszer and I am a 2 time Breast Cancer Survivor. I was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time at the age of 33 and again at 35. Breast Cancer did not run in my family, and I felt that I should not have been at risk for this terrible disease that hits one in 8 women. However, I later learned that I carry the BRCA2 gene mutation for breast and ovarian cancer as does my younger sister. In June 2013, my 19 year-old daughter Sedona was tested for the BRCA gene mutation. In August, just after her 20th birthday, I received the news that I had been dreading for nearly 15 years.  My daughter carries the BRCA2 gene mutation.  This means that she has an 87% chance in her lifetime of getting breast or ovarian cancer. This means that in her 20’s – she is looking at a future of having her breasts removed. This means that in her 30’s –she is looking at a future of having her ovaries removed. This mean that my nightmare continues…but this means that my fight against breast cancer also continues. I will continue to walk and raise money against this disease so that our daughters, or our daughters’ daughters may one day have a future without breast cancer.

I am now MORE committed than ever to do something about this disease and to give back to others. I have traveled as far as Sri Lanka with other breast cancer survivors from around the world to help build homes in the slums of Colombo. My family and Team Pink Wings has helped to raise over $500,000 by participating in Breast Cancer walks and events around the country and through the sales of Pink Wings items.

I have participated in 14 Breast Cancer 3-Day events since 1999, walking 60 miles from Santa Barbara to Malibu (walk x2, crew x1), Boca Raton to Miami, and Enumclaw to Seattle. I have also walked 60 miles in the Los Angeles, San Diego, Michigan, Chicago (x2), Dallas, Boston, Twin Cities and Atlanta 3-Day events. Family members, including my husband, mother, sisters and brother-in-law walked along side me, (my husband and brother-in-law both lost their mothers to Breast Cancer). In 2014, my 12-year-old daughters Sage and Sienna applied to be Youth Corps for the Twin Cities walk. They had to fill out an application, write an essay and do an interview over the phone. Both of my daughters were selected and it was amazing having them on the route of the Twin Cities 3-Day with me. In Atlanta in 2015, my daughter Sage was on Youth Corp again. 

In 2009, the Pink Wings team for the Boston Breast Cancer 3-Day grew to 21 team members (19 walkers and 2 crew members). These were women from all over the country ranging in age from 15 (my daughter Sedona) to 50.  I am proud to say that our team raised nearly $48,000 and we were the #3 team for fundraising in Boston!! 

In August of 2010, the Pink Wings team grew to 37 team members for the Chicago Breast Cancer 3-Day.  We had 33 walkers and 4 crew members from around the country. Pink Wings was the TOP TEAM in the country for fundraising for the Chicago 3-Day, bringing in nearly $90,000!!!  That is more than many walks around the country make for their entire event!  In Chicago, we were excited to have a few males join our team again. My daughter Sedona walked alongside me for the 2nd time.

For 2017 I will be walking in the Philadelphia Breast Cancer 3-Day for a Cure with my Pink Wings team for my 15th Walk.  My daughter Sage will be on Youth Corp for her 3rd time, and I am happy to share that my 11-year-old son Slayton was also chosen to join us for the first time as a member of the Philly Youth Corp!!   If you would like information about joining our team, please contact me at [email protected]  

My family and I have also participated in the Revlon Run/Walk for Breast Cancer, Take-A-Hike for Breast Cancer, Relay for Life and the Walk for the Cause. For the 9 years my family and I lived in Oregon, we enjoyed participating annually in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Portland, Oregon. Our team for this event ranged from 13 to 23 members. We also participated in the Discover Pink Walk in Salem, the Play for the Cure in Salem and the Albany Walk for the Cause. 
And when I have a spare moment, I also like to participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer 39 mile walks (I have walked in Los Angeles and San Francisco).

I have been a Reach to Recovery volunteer with the American Cancer Society in Los Angeles and an Outreach Coordinator in Oregon for FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered) with my sister Erin.
Now that I am back in Southern California, I have gotten involved with Reality Rally- a fundraiser for Michelle's Place (a local Breast Cancer Resource Center in Temecula, California). I participated in the fundraiser in 2016 and 2017. The Pink Wings team placed 23rd out of over 80 teams in 2017!!  I plan on having a Pink Wings team again in 2018.

In 2012, I did not participate in a 3-Day walk as I decided to make my dream of going to Africa a reality. In July of 2012, Sedona, (my oldest daughter) and I flew to Nairobi, Kenya and traveled through Kenya and Tanzania for a month. We brought over 2 huge suitcases of clothing and uniforms for a pre-school in the slums of Huruma that our church had donated. We spent an entire day at the school, talking to the teachers, playing with the children, reading to them, and listening to the students as they read stories and sang to us.  This was one of the highlights of our trip. Next, we went on 3 safaris, including a hot air balloon safari. How amazing to see the animals in these beautiful National Parks. We were lucky to spot the Big 5 during our Safaris! Towards the end of our trip, we spent time on the beaches of the Island of Zanzibar in Tanzania and also in Mombasa, Kenya. On one of our days in Mombasa, Sedona and I rode camels down the beach. This was a trip of a lifetime and I will always be greatful for the month I spent with my daughter in the beautiful country of Africa.

Pink Wings began as a dream to do something positive to help bring an end to breast cancer. My sisters and I wore Pink Wings on our Breast Cancer 3-Day walks and were known as the Angel Sisters. I felt this would be a great name for a company trying to raise awareness and funds for Breast Cancer. Thank you for visiting our site.

Click here to read the Courtney's complete story.

Make A Difference
By purchasing Pink Wings products, you can make a difference. You are showing support and awareness of Breast Cancer. Up to 20% of net proceeds is donated to Breast Cancer Organizations. If you or any of your supporters purchase from our site, you can have a 10% donation go to your event. Event and Participant Name must be entered in the Comments section at check out. A donation check made out to the event will be sent with the order.