74 MARCH 2026 | INTHEVUE.COM It started with Cindy volunteer- ing with her company’s Relay For Life Team years back, and led to the now, Stomp Cancer, Malray’s new non-profit that benefits local cancer warriors by keeping funds local. Through the years she has grown closer to the patients, and continues to try harder each and every time to help them throughout their journey with anything she can. In that time, she realized that she wanted to be able to keep the funds they were raising locally - truly local. “The timing now, for me, is right. I’m planning on retiring from my full-time job of nearly 30 years, which gives me the time now to do this the right way,” said Malray, “with full dedication. Our community is generous, and I need them to see just where their money is going and know we are here for the patients and survivors here in the area.” Since COVID-19, many of the American Cancer Society offices have shut down, and their employees now work from home. Western Kentucky didn’t have a “local” ACS member close - the closest one being in Somerset, Kentucky. Therefore, Malray wanted to change that, while being able to keep the funds close to home, for the community here. This effort will begin with the creation of a database to support individuals requesting assistance while battling cancer. “Our plans are to help with transportation to treatments, or gas cards if that’s what they prefer. Wigs, bras, any type of items needed along these lines,” said Malray. “Even if someone needs food or help with a bill, we want to help in whatever way we possibly can.” While Malray appreciates the effort and dedication many worldwide organizations do for cancer survivors, she knows that there’s something extra special when it’s coming from those who are, essentially, your neighbors. “Those kinds of supports are so critical during treatment because it helps build their spirit, and hopefully gives them motivation to fight knowing that they have someone behind them right here at home,” said Malray. From her years of experience in volunteer work, Malray has seen many of the struggles cancer patients face that people may not realize they go through. Such as the aftereffects from chemotherapy, surgeries, and just daily struggles that no one sees. The idea of the non-profit stems from an original stomp event organized by Joelle Long with Texas Roadhouse. While volunteering with the event, Malray was able to see how much love and support the community has for our local cancer warriors. From the teams participating and the understanding that everyone has the same goal in mind that they are constantly striving for - to end cancer. “When I first started the Texas Roadhouse Stomp Toward the Cure, it was because one of our employees was battling breast cancer. After that first Stomp, something really stuck with me. Yes, breast cancer awareness is incredibly important, but there are so many fighters and survivors out there whose battles often go unseen,” said Joelle Long. “People who may never hear someone say, ‘You’ve got this.’” That realization is what
