🦓 Zebra Steps for Patricia: A Walk for Neuroendocrine Cancer 🦓

The Zebra Walk for Patricia is a 5K walk (in person or virtual) to honor Patricia Comer-Lopez, who courageously fought Neuroendocrine (Carcinoid) Cancer for 14 years. 

Patricia was born in Blythe, CA, and passed away in Portland, OR, this past April. Although she lived in many places, she always considered Phoenix her home.

Patricia was a true warrior (and stubborn as hell). She showed love and kindness to everyone she met. True to her culture, she had an unrelenting work ethic, a deep sense of determination, and a compulsion to feed all who entered her home. 

She was creative, kind, generous, silly, passionate, and welcoming, but she could also be fierce. Before she passed, one of her hospice nurses introduced her family to the term “Love Ethic”. For all of Patricia’s life, the focus was always on her work ethic. But before her passing, we all experienced her love ethic, and that’s what we will focus on going forward in life.

🦓 Why the Zebra? 🦓

In the medical world, doctors are taught, “When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras,” meaning they look for the most common diagnosis first. But Neuroendocrine Cancer is uncommon — we are the zebras. The zebra’s stripes also represent the fact that no two NET tumors are alike, just as every patient’s journey is unique.

On November 29th, 2025, we’ll gather at Kiwanis Park (Mill Ave & All America Way), Tempe, AZ, for this awareness walk — and yes, I’ll be dressed as a zebra 🦓 to honor Patricia and every NET warrior.

Donations will go directly to the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF -netrf.org), which is currently matching every dollar donated in the month of November, up to $75,000. This means your tax-deductible contribution has double the impact.

Thank you for helping raise awareness, honoring Patricia’s legacy, and supporting Neuroendocrine Tumor Research that brings hope to families like ours. 🖤🦓💛