Travis and Thad's Story

Miles for Moffitt Team is a Tribute to Wife, Mother, Advocate

Theresa Jean-Pierre Coy strongly believed that increasing awareness about breast cancer can save lives.

To honor her memory and to further this cause, Jean-Pierre Coy’s husband Travis, their 8-year-old son Thaddeus and several friends gathered in November for a 5K walk in the 20th annual Miles for Moffitt presented by AutoNation.

It was a meaningful tribute for this team of 19 people, which is called “Thad’s Troops.” The team raised $3,655 for cancer research.

Walking Together for Awareness

“Miles for Moffitt is something that was extremely important to my wife in terms of bringing out cancer awareness,” said Travis Coy. “This is one consistent event that Thaddeus and I can participate in to honor her and her desire to bring this disease to the forefront of people’s awareness.”

Jean-Pierre Coy was an attorney and community advocate who fought passionately on behalf of her clients. She was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer and was treated at Moffitt Cancer Center. She passed away in 2022.

Travis Coy is a member of a Christian men’s group called Iron Sharpens Iron, which takes its name from Proverbs 27:17 – “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Members of the group decided to support Travis and Thaddeus by forming a Miles for Moffitt team.

“Theresa meant a great deal to the George Edgecomb Society, not only for what she did, but for how she did it,” said B. Lee Green, PhD., a senior member in Moffitt’s Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior. “She showed up for people, spoke up when it mattered. We are committed to continuing to support Travis and Thaddeus and to honoring the legacy she built through action.”

Green is a friend of the Coy family and a member of Iron Sharpens Iron (ISI). He said the group  “has been a steady presence for this family over the last few years. Because Travis is part of ISI, stepping in to support him and Thaddeus was never a question; it was simply the right thing to do.”

Carrying Forward a Mission

It’s a fitting tribute because Jean-Pierre Coy advocated for cancer patients, including the need for women to perform self-checks and receive regular mammograms, which can save lives. Instead of keeping her own cancer diagnosis private, she shared the news publicly to create greater awareness.

She also believed in supporting cancer research to save more lives in the future.

“This disease doesn’t favor one generation over another or one race or another, it doesn’t know your socioeconomic status. She wanted to let people know this does affect everyone,” Travis Coy said.

“Before you pass, on this Earth, you’re going to know someone directly or indirectly who’s been affected by cancer,” he added. “Miles for Moffitt is an event where you can contribute financially or just do your part by cheering someone on.”