Montclair native and coach of MHS’s Varsity Girls’ lacrosse team, Ann Jennings, took a victory lap around the skies of North Jersey yesterday, to celebrate her triumph over breast cancer. Also riding in the Horizon blimp — which was specially outfitted with pink “breast cancer awareness” tail fins — was Jennings’ mother, June King, who lives in Upper Montclair and is also a breast cancer survivor. The celebration was a joint effort of Horizon BCBSNJ and Susan G. Komen for the Cure North Jersey Affiliate’s “Screen for Life” campaign, which encourages timely preventive health screenings.

A couple of weeks ago, Charlie Shoulberg from Steps Lacrosse approached me and said “Ann would you want to ride in a blimp?” Charlie & I were together at LAX for the Cure –- a 3-day girls’ lacrosse tournament in New Egypt, NJ, which raised over $235,000 for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure North Jersey Affiliate.

My first thought was that I would like to, but wasn’t sure I would have the guts to get up in a blimp! He then told me that Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey had come together to promote early detection for breast cancer, so of course, I had to! If I could survive breast cancer, I could get up in a blimp — the chance of a lifetime!

I asked my mother — also a breast cancer survivor — to ride with me.

Yesterday morning, we drove down to Solberg-Hunterdon Airport together. As we approached the blimp, we looked at each other and said, “we can do this!” We were excited but also nervous.

Everyone greeted us, and we walked out to the field, where we met our pilot and boarded the blimp.

It was truly amazing! We flew over Hunterdon County and Long Valley Reservoir. It was a hot day, but felt cool in the blimp. We were amazed how the pilot flew, and was in such control. We had a perfect landing!

It was an experience of a lifetime, and we were so grateful for the opportunity given to us by Lax for the Cure/Steps Lacrosse, the North Jersey Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Horizon. Another thing I am truly grateful for is early detection. At the age of 39, I had my first mammogram and then at 40, I went for my yearly check up and it was then they found two small tumors, which were Stage I cancer. Because of early detection I was able to have treatment and 2 and half years later I am healthy. I can only hope that more women will get their mammograms early and yearly.

Beyond being a cancer survivor, Ann passionately supports the current generation of young athletes, as both a coach and mentor. She was on the sidelines coaching, just days after the birth of two of her children, and within a week after surgery for breast cancer. She names her five children Zach, Kayla, Jillian, Max, and Luke as her greatest accomplishments.