Meet Your Ambassadors

We are so grateful for our community members serving as ambassadors to share the story of the Go Jen Go Foundation and bring the community together on March 21!

ALEX NIKOUKARY

Alex leads the Waxhaw Run Club, bringing energy and community spirit to every run. As an experienced pacer, he loves helping runners find their rhythm and reach their goals. Known for his encouragement and positivity, Alex strives to lift others up and make every mile meaningful.

How breast cancer has changed my life: I am actively involved in the oncology space. In my day job, I work on the data side of oncology clinical trials to improve patient outcomes.

ANNA TIPPS
Anna Tipps is a local Charlotte wife, toddler mom, and avid runner. Previously a member of her Dll colleges cross-country team she now runs for fun and has an Instagram account: @runningonmimosas highlighting her races, studio reviews in CLT, and plenty of post run celebration fun! Breast cancer has touched her families and friends lives personally and she is honored to be an ambassador for the second year in a row to help raise money and bring awareness through the Go Jen Go foundation and 5K in 2026!

How breast cancer has changed my life: My grandmother had breast cancer and beat it ! I know the toll it can take on the individual family and friends and anything I can do to help I want too!

BECKY COPPPLE

Becky didn’t grow up running, but all it took was running in a tutu through Cinderella’s Castle at Disneyworld to spark a love of the sport! Running has gotten Becky through the tough times, including a breast cancer diagnosis in 2023. A year after her double mastectomy, Becky ran the Chicago Marathon. Running, jogging, walking, and movement of any kind is its own kind of therapy and Becky is beyond excited to be an Run Jen Run ambassador!

How breast cancer has changed my life: I am a two-year survivor and both my mother and sister are survivors.

BRITTANY CLINKSCALES
BIO: Coming Soon

How breast cancer has changed my life: I have a close friend who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer at this time.

JOHN CARRIKER
I’m John Carriker and am a native Charlottean. On Monday nights you will find me Co Leading Matthews Run Club where I have been a Co Lead for almost 7 years. In my professional life I am a Charlotte Fire Fighter, a job which I love and have been a part of for 29 years. Helping others has always been something I chase. Follow my running journey on instagram @j4clt

How breast cancer has change my life: Although not I have not directly affect by breast cancer, it has affected many of my friends including some recipients of Run Jen Run. My first Run Jen Run race in 2019, listening to multiple recipients touched me. I felt their thankfulness of Run Jen Run. Already knowing Susan Evren, I knew this was an organization I wanted to support.

KIM LYNCH

I’m a 13 year breast cancer survivor & count every day as a blessing. I started running 5 yrs ago, the year I turned 50 & it has changed my life in so many amazing ways. I love running in 5ks as a way to support my local community. Through running I found the Go Jen Go & am passionate about all they do & their commitment to help others

How breast cancer has changed my life: I am a 13 year survivor. I was 41 years old and unemployed when diagnosed. It was discovered at my first mammogram.

MAGAN CARRIKER

I'm Magan; a runner, race volunteer, and proud part of the Charlotte running community. You’ll usually find me logging miles with Matthews Run Club or pacing races all around the QC. I love giving back to the sport that’s given me so much—whether that’s volunteering, pacing, or cheering runners to the finish line. I’m a former Go Jen Go ambassador and couldn’t be more
excited to be invited back for Run Jen Run 5K.

Fun fact: I met my husband John while running here in Charlotte! He’s also a race ambassador and we got married after running the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston.

How breast cancer has changed my life: My grandmother passed away from it when I was a child. I know firsthand what families go through, and I’m honored to volunteer with Go Jen Go to honor her legacy and to see the incredible impact this organization has not only on grantees, but on their families too.

MARIE DALEY

I love the endorphins and community that come with exercise. Running, dancing, walking and exploring the great outdoors are a few places to find joy. As a breast cancer survivor, surgeries and treatment, to choose life, have been challenging. Like a race, I take it one step at a time. Each mile looks and feels differently, but I keep moving forward!

How breast cancer has changed my life: Being diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer for my 36th birthday, 6 months after a stroke due to a hole in my heart that left me partially blind has more than "touched" my life. Dare I say, it ruined it. Breast cancer has destroyed me, it has crushed my fitness goals and dreams and made me extremely ill while I choose life. I find true joy in physical exercise. Running, dancing, walking, etc. due to surgery and treatment has limited my activity. Even though my treatment remains brutal, I choose to rise above my circumstances and keep moving forward. Run Jen Run gives hope to us cancer survivors to run right through the diagnosis to a life still worth living.

SARAH DEAN

I am from Cameron, WV and have lived in Rock Hill, SC for 19 years. I am happily married to my husband, Andrew. We have three kids - Lilley (14), Luke (12), and Anderson (5). I am trained as a school psychologist and now work for 7 Mindsets. I started running in 2009 to get in better shape and to challenge myself. Running has now evolved into a way for me to take charge of my mental health and also as a social outlet.

How breast cancer has changed my life: I was diagnosed with triple negative, invasive ductal carcinoma with positive lymph nodes at the age of 32. At the time, I had a 4 and 2 year old. With no family history, I was completely shocked and terrified when I was diagnosed. I was also diagnosed on my middle son’s 2nd birthday. After completing chemo, getting a lumpectomy, and enduring radiation, I received the amazing news that I was cancer free. This was in June of 2016. I take any opportunity I can to help others who face a cancer diagnosis. Mostly, this is in the form of being a listening ear and providing words of encouragement. I also love being a part of organizations like Go Jen Go.

SHELLY LEE

Hola! I’m Shelly Lee or as my sweet Spanish class students refer to me, Señorita Lee! I’m an avid runner and many time marathoner, Mom of two young adult sons and breast cancer stepped into my life im 2015 when I ended up needing bilateral mastectomy & radiation, followed by a reoccurrence in 2022. I’m so proud to represent Go Jen Go, as a former grantee and now run ambassador! 💕

How breast cancer has changed my life: I am a 2 time breast cancer survivor and in 2022 I was a Go Jen Jen Grantee.