Meet the Founder

Anna Brehm Anderson

Founder & President, Silent Triumphs®

Survivor • Caregiver • Advocate

My story with Silent Triumphs® began long before the company was founded in 2008.

In December 2002, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. What followed was a life-changing experience involving surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and the everyday realities of living through cancer.

That experience shaped my perspective, but it didn't define everything about my life.

In 2008, I founded Silent Triumphs® with a desire to recognize the experiences and moments that often go unnoticed. What began with my personal experience has grown into a brand that acknowledges the many different ways people experience life, face challenges, celebrate accomplishments, and remember those they love.

My Connection to the American Cancer Society's Sole Burner

For more than 40 years, I've participated in the American Cancer Society's Sole Burner 5K in the Fox Cities.

One of the most meaningful parts of the event is the Hill of Hope, where family, friends, and volunteers encourage participants as they make their way toward the finish.

My connection to this event is deeply personal. I've participated as a supporter, a survivor, and someone who has experienced cancer's impact on family and friends and each year brings different people, different experiences, and different reasons for being there.

At the American Cancer Society's Sole Burner 5K during my breast cancer treatment in 2003—five chemotherapy treatments completed, with four more and radiation still ahead.

At the conclusion of the American Cancer Society's Sole Burner 5K, I rang the bell seven times—once for myself and six times in recognition of family members whose lives have been touched by cancer, including those we have lost.

A personal moment of remembrance, gratitude, and connection.

Silent Triumphs® continues to evolve, just as life does.

My hope is that its message encourages people to recognize what matters in their own lives, without feeling the need to explain, compare, or share their experiences with anyone else.

Inspire • Ignite • Imagine

Beyond My Story