Author Archives: rlayer7@gmail.com

2019 Recap

Getting married, three Rising Strength events and running in the Boston Marathon for the Oral Cancer Foundation have made this without a doubt the busiest and best year so far.

I was so fortunate to start off the year by hosting a great self-defense class at the Easton YMCA with LeCarlo Beaty. LeCarlo, as always, did an amazing job with making the women feel comfortable and encouraged everyone to have fun all while teaching life saving self-defense. We had an awesome turn out and I am so grateful for the support the YMCA has offered over the past years in allowing me to host these classes.

One of the women who attended the class at the YMCA asked if I would teach a class for her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop. Go Mom! The topics discussed at the classes can often scare many parents but these are conversations that unfortunately we need to have. The statistic is still 1 in 4 women will be a victim of an attempted or completed rape. Starting these conversations early is critical to changing this. At the class we focused on trusting your instincts and believing in yourself. Thank you to Matt Herron who taught this class and traded his time for Girl Scout cookies!

In April, I had the opportunity to run in the Boston Marathon for the second time for the Oral Cancer Foundation. It took me three marathons to qualify for this Boston Marathon and I could not have been happier to be out there again. For a runner, there is no better event than the Boston Marathon. From the start to the finish for 26.2 miles you are being cheered on by the people of Boston and being inspired by all of the runners along the way. While I was on the course I saw a police officer running in full uniform, disabled athletes that defied all odds against them and prevailing each mile and countless runners fulfilling a dream. Running for the Oral Cancer Foundation in honor of mom is something that I will forever be grateful for. Due to the amazing sponsors Forward Science, Caliber Home Loans, Higginbottom Orthodontics, ShoreGate Partners, MDSW Law, SamSport, Benson and Mangold and DS Smith, and many personal donations we were able to hit our target goal of raising $5,000 for the Oral Cancer Foundation!

Huge THANK YOU to Forward Science for your continued support and closing the gap with a generous donation that made us reach the $5,000 goal! I am very grateful to have Forward Science on our team in the fight against oral cancer! Their life saving devices, products that help with the effects of radiation and commitment to raising awareness are pivotal in this battle.

Five days after getting married, I had the opportunity to go back to the Senior Summit to share my story and teach a self-defense seminar with John Givens. John is an incredible teacher, owner of a local MMA studio and all round great guy! This was the second year in row that I have had the opportunity to be a part of this great event. I am so proud to live in a community that values seniors and all those who provide care for them. In the class, like many others, several women shared their stories of survival. I am grateful that we provided them an outlet to share, heal and feel empowered through self-defense. Thank you, John for teaching a great class and donating your time to the community!

I can’t thank my husband, Eddie, enough for all of his support in every single one of my endevours. I am extremely lucky to have such a supportive and thoughtful partner. Getting married was absolutely the best part of 2019.

Self-Defense at Talbot Senior Summit

This summer I had the opportunity to share the story behind Rising Strength at the Talbot Senior Summit held at the Talbot Community Center. The Talbot Senior Summit is a day-long program for seniors, caregivers, professionals and children of seniors where they can learn about wellness, safety, technology and staying active. I feel very grateful to live in a community that provides these types of services to the seniors in the community and it was an honor to participate.

I asked Matt and Kathy Herron from Mid-Shore Martial Arts to teach the self-defense portion of the class. I was recommended to link up with Matt by a friend of mine whose children attend Mid-Shore Martial Arts. When I met Matt I was so impressed with his enthusiasm and passion for empowering people through martial arts and knew he would be a great fit for the Rising Strength seminars. Matt and Kathy have a talent for teaching martial arts and work with both children and adults. During the class, Matt and Kathy showed the participants how to properly hit, kick and get out of holds. We reviewed real life situations and how to stay safe. Matt and Kathy could not have done a better job and I look forward to organizing more classes with them.

While sharing my story I mentioned how often I am contacted during or after the events that I organize by people who have survived an attempted or completed assault. To me this has validates the high statistic of 1 in 6 men and women have survived an attempted or completed rape. I never would have believed that statistic until I became a part of it. Soon after I said that a women attending the course raised her hand and asked to share her story. While living in Baltimore she was attacked and forced into her car by an unassuming man in a suit. This woman’s attacker forced her to drive but while she was in the car she remembered how her father in-law, who was in the military, told her that the longer she was with a person trying to hurt her the more likely she would not survive. This brave woman pulled her emergency brake and jumped out of the car and ran to the car behind her. The attacker took off on foot and was not caught.

I am so grateful that this woman survived her attack and was able to share her experience with us at the seminar. Every time I have the opportunity to share my story and organize a self-defense class I feel that I am healing and getting stronger. I hope that the woman who shared her story was able to leave the class feeling the same way. Thank you to the Talbot Senior Summit for asking me to be a part of this years event!

Self-Defense at the Easton YMCA

Thank you to everyone who attended our self-defense workshops this winter! We had great turnouts at both events and as always LeCarlo Beaty from Divas in Defense did a fantastic job teaching the courses.

At both classes, I shared my story of how self-defense helped me over come the fear I had after the attack. I feel very strongly that not only is self-defense an important tool in preventing assaults against women but it is also a powerful way to help victims of assaults heal. I am so grateful that I was able to take self-defense soon after the attack and I know that it had a huge impact on my recovery.

In my opinion, one of the best aspects of LeCarlo’s classes is that he focuses on real life situations. We discussed the importance of situational awareness every time you leave your house. How often do we go about our day and routines without fully being aware of what is around us? I know that the day of my attack, I had no idea that I was being followed on my morning run. Being aware of your surroundings and trusting your instincts are critical. At the classes the women learned how to properly punch and kick and how to get out of many different types of holds. I feel confident that all the women who came to the course learned survival skills and also had fun.

If you want to learn more about personal safety and self-defense pick up a copy of LeCarlo’s book Life Insurance: Basic Guide for Women’s Safety and Self Defense. I was honored to write and share my story for the foreword for this book and I couldn’t be prouder of all that LeCarlo does to keep women safe.

St. Michaels OCF Walk

Thank you to everyone who came out to the first St. Michaels Oral Cancer Foundation Walk on November 18th! It was a cold but beautiful day on the Nature Trail and I am so grateful for everyone who attended. Several oral cancer survivors and family members of patients attended the walk as did two warriors who are still battling this terrible disease. Together we raised over $7,000 for the OCF!!


Thank you, Gloria, for sharing your amazing story of resilience and courage! For more information on the foundation that Gloria started to help young oral cancer patients please visit Bravely Beautiful .


Thank you, Pam and Kia, for traveling from Tennessee and Arizona to volunteer at the event! Huge thank you to my dad, Eddie, Uncle Keith and cousins Josh and Alyssa who were a massive help at the walk.

Thank you to our awesome sponsors for funding the walk and Dr. Jared Nave and Amanda Ward for giving free oral cancer screenings to everyone who attended.


St. Michaels Oral Cancer Foundation Walk

Gloria is an oral cancer survivor and founder of Bravely Beautiful. Gloria will be sharing her story at the St. Michaels Oral Cancer Walk on November 18th and just celebrated her 5 year in remission anniversary! Thank you, Gloria, for sharing your story of resilience, determination and bravery!

“Take what life gives you and rock with it.”

– Gloria , oral cancer survivor

The Oral Cancer Foundation will be having a walk on the St. Michaels Nature Trail on November 18th, 2017. Registration will open at 8am and we will have free oral cancer screenings leading up to the walk. The two-mile walk will start at 9am and conclude with breakfast. Additionally, Gloria, an oral cancer survivor, will be sharing her amazing story of resilience.

In April 2012, at 26 years old, she was diagnosed with Stage II Squamous Cell Carcinoma on the left side of her tongue. She underwent treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital, consisting of two surgeries and seven weeks of IMRT radiation therapy across three months.

In 2013, less than one year after her battle with oral cancer began, Gloria founded Bravely Beautiful, Inc. a Washington, D.C. based not-for-profit which aims to help young adults diagnosed with tongue cancer become fearless. The mantra of Bravely Beautiful is “take what life gives you and rock with it”.

In 2014, Bravely Beautiful submitted its business plan to LiveSTRONG’s Big C competition, a one-of-a-kind competition that generated innovations aimed at improving the daily quality of life for the 32.5 million people around the world living with cancer. With more than 750 entries from around the world, Bravely Beautiful qualified as a semi-finalist and was honored as a “promising project.” Additionally, Gloria is a proud supporter of the Oral Cancer Foundation and contributes much of her survivorship to the OCF and other groups who have connected her to fellow warriors.

Gloria is a marketing professional with more than ten years of professional experience working in advertising agencies and professional services. In her free time, Gloria loves being around her family and friends and staying active through indoor cycling classes and stand-up paddle boarding.

We are so honored to have Gloria attend our event and share her story. Please click the link for more event information.

St. Michaels Oral Cancer Walk

Rising Strength at Miles and Stockbridge


Yesterday, we had an awesome day at the law firm of Miles and Stockbridge! I shared the story behind Rising Strength and LeCarlo Beaty taught a self-defense course to the female lawyers who work there. We reviewed basic self-defense and situational awareness. Thank you, LeCarlo, for again teaching a great and fun course!

I can’t thank my dear friend, Beth Koloup, enough for helping organize this class. Beth is a lawyer at Miles and Stockbridge and has been a tremendous supporter and advocate of both Rising Strength and Carol’s Fight. Beth is the epitome of a great friend. I could not have gotten through the loss of my mom and overcome the attack without the support of amazing friends like Beth.

Thank you, Eddie, for always being so encouraging and supportive!

Free Self-Defense Class April 8th

“But behind all your stories is always your mother’s story, because hers is where yours begin.”
-Mitch Albom

Free Self-Defense Class
April 8th
St. Michaels YMCA
10am-noon

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month and my sweet dad has asked to sponsor the self-defense class on April 8th in honor of my mom, Carol Layer, who lost a 9 year battle with oral cancer. I have no doubt that the fight I saw in my mom over the 9 years she fought cancer directly impacted the fight I had in me the night of the attack.

I saw my mom go through insurmountable obstacles due to oral cancer, but she continued to carry on and fight for more time with her family. I was so fortunate to have a mom like mine for 24 years and her influence continues to play a large role in my life today.

LeCarlo Beaty from Divas in Defense will be coming back to St. Michaels to teach life saving skills on April 8th. Thank you Tracy Cohee for again donating the space at the St. Michaels YMCA!

The class is free and all ages are welcome. We will be selling Rising Strength tanks at the class for $25 with 100% of the proceeds going to The Oral Cancer Foundation. My awesome and talented friend Beth Murray designed the logo. Thank you, B!!

Free Self Defense Class

Self Defense Class
St. Michaels YMCA
March 11th
10am-noon

LeCarlo Beaty from Divas in Defense will will be teaching a course on self-defense and situational awareness. These classes are about prevention, safety and building confidence. I started taking self-defense classes after surviving an attempted rape and murder in my home during a home invasion. Self defense gave me an outlet to channel my frustration and fears after the attack and lead to growth and healing. I hope to give as many women as possible the positive experience I had from self-defense classes.

We are able to provide this class for free due to the generosity of Benson and Mangold who is sponsoring this class and Tracey Cohee who donated the space at the YMCA.

Self-Defense in St. Michaels

1 in 6 women in America will survive an attempted or completed rape. 1 in 87 women in America will take a self-defense class.

Thank you to the women who braved the snow on Saturday to attend the self-defense class at the St. Michaels YMCA! It was a great morning with LeCarlo Beaty from Divas in Defense providing many life saving skills. We went over how to properly punch, kick and get out of holds. Thank you, LeCarlo, for your enthusiasm, professionalism and traveling over two-hours to get to the class!

We had women of all ages in attendance and received great feedback. Thank you,Tracy Cohee, for providing the space for the class and to your awesome staff for staying open in the snow storm! We will be providing another free self-defense class in the upcoming months.

Thanks, Eddie, for being the best “attacker” and photographer on Saturday 🙂