Donnalyn Giegerich MBA,CIC,RYT is co-owner of Heritage Benefits Group, a producing partner for Couch Braunsdorf Insurance in Red Bank, NJ and an avid athlete who enjoys golf, sprint triathalons, strength training and yoga. Her hectic life was changed — but not interrupted — when she was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer in 2007. After a complex 10 hour kidney auto-transplant surgery, general radiation, cyber-knife radiation, and six months of chemotherapy in 2007 she is Cancer Free! Throughout her recovery process, DonnaLyn continued with her business and daily life while maintaining a regimen of exercise which included running, cycling and swimming.
Donnalyn is a former Adjunct Professor of Finance and Economics at Monmouth University’s Graduate School of Business and Brookdale Community College. She is a mentor for Women-Unlimited, Inc. which provides leadership training for high potential Fortune 500 corporate women. She has served as director on numerous business boards and has won many awards for her community service initiatives and business leadership.
The mission of this blog is to raise awareness for Leiomyosarcoma and inspire others to move through adversity with passion and style.
DonnaLyn’s motivational speaking engagements and workshops leverage 20 years of business and life experience to empower women to unveil their natural abilities by co-creating a balanced and harmonious sense of self. Donnalyn inspires women to evoke their innate skills. She offers a diverse range of topics which encourage women to define, design and develop their maximum potential for a healthier, happier and fulfilled existence. With determination and confidence, women can achieve their ultimate success and independence.
Most recently, DonnaLyn was nominated as NJ’s Garden State Women of the Yr, awarded the Platinum Star by the National Association of Woman Business Owners/CJ, presented with the EMACC’s Honorary Spinnaker Award and named Red Bank, NJ’s Honorary Rotarian.
In 2008, she received TeamSurvivorTriState’s Thriver of the Year Award along side Olympic swimmer Eric Shanteau. She has presented at Women’s Wellness and Financial Forums with Dr. Nancy Snyderman, MD and Mary C. Farrell, retired Managing Director and Chief Investment Strategist, UBS and prominent financial services consultant, on the importance of fitness and financial stability thru illness.
The media has taken great interest in Donnalyn. She has appeared on NBC News before competing in the Metroman Triathalon for her LMS Foundation, was front page news in the Asbury Park Press and is featured in numerous national wellness and fashion magazines. She also appeared in a film produced by the Sarcoma Foundation of American entitled “A Cure in Our Time” with Hollywood’s Peri Gilpin. Today, she is Mrs. Red Bank US 2009 competed for the Mrs. NJ US 2009 Pageant and successfully won numerous awards to raise awareness for LMS.
