OVERexpressed & OUT features Perry Zimmerman
Childhood cancer survivor, fundraiser, and advocate's story inspires us to "just keep swimming"
Perry Zimmerman is a five-time cancer survivor and a childhood cancer advocate. She was born with genetic retinoblastoma, developed a related brain tumor when she was two, an osteosarcoma in her leg at eleven, another osteosarcoma in her shoulder at eighteen, and a thyroid cancer at twenty.
Since 2009, she has raised almost 5 million dollars for Cycle for Survival, a rare cancer fundraiser based out of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She hopes that the money raised will fund groundbreaking research and drug development.
Outside of raising money through Cycle for Survival, Perry uses her Instagram (@perryzimm33) as a platform to raise awareness for childhood cancer and to share her story.
She graduated from Lafayette College in May 2023 and is looking for a career giving back to childhood cancer patients, being someone they can lean on during tough times.
Perry’s Prompt for Reflection:
Asking for help is often really hard for me, but over the years I have learned that I can't always do everything on my own.
Think of a time you asked for help, who you asked for help, the relationship you have with that person, and how it turned out.