Jan Zatorski Chatsworth, California United States Amazon Heart Thunder United States 2008 New Rider Click Here to Donate Now!

Hi, I’m Jan.  I live in sunny southern California and have been here most of my life.  I’ve been married to Zeke for 21 years and have two fantastic kids, daughter Devon (14) and son Daniel (12).  I work for the City of Los Angeles where I started as a lifeguard and Aquatics Director and eventually moved into management.

I became part of the club no one expects to be in when I was diagnosed at the age of 44 with Stage IIA breast cancer in January 2007.  I had no family history and, according to my husband, was the healthiest person he knew.  I had both invasive ductal carcinoma and DCIS in my left breast but, fortunately, no lymph node involvement.  My story started out with me feeling a lump on my breast a week before I was to have my fourth mammogram (I’d been having them since age 39).  Nothing showed on the mammograms ever.  It took ultrasounds and a biopsy to find I had two cancerous tumors. 

One week later I had a lumpectomy, where they ended up finding four tumors total but, unfortunately, did not get clear margins.  So two months later, I had a mastectomy with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction using my belly fat to rebuild my breast (one advantage).  This was followed by four months of chemotherapy with the requisite hair loss.

I really had amazing support from my family and friends throughout and was able to take off work the whole time to focus on getting healthy.  It was at my local cancer support center, WeSpark, where I met Tia Bruno in a yoga class and learned about Amazon Heart Thunder.  I had recently signed up for the motorcycle riding class and noticed this beautiful purple Harley in the parking lot.  When I saw this spunky gal come in, I asked if that was her bike.  She told me that she was riding with other breast cancer survivors up the coast.  I wanted to join up right then and there, but hadn’t even taken the class yet or got my license.  So, I did what I could do and sponsored her.

Three weeks after my last chemo session and the week before I had to go back to work, I took the riding class in the heat of August.  With incredible instructors (especially Marty Rapp), I was able to squeak by the class and one month later received my license.  After borrowing and renting bikes, I began a diligent search for my own bike and found a used 2006 Harley Davidson 1200 Sportster Custom at Simi Valley Harley Davidson.  While I test drove it, my husband said we should wait until after the new year to purchase it.  Well, he had another trick up his sleeve and bought it for me as a surprise Christmas present! 
I’m so excited to be a part of Amazon Heart Thunder for 2008, wanting to do this since I first heard about it last year.  I so believe in helping women that have to go through this unsettling ordeal and know as a group we’ll be helping each other.  Please help me reach my goal of raising $5,000 to benefit young women who never expect to be part of the club.

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