Chester County couple Erin and Joey D’Avanzo were planning on expanding their family in 2017 when they received news they never expected, write Brian Taff, Nick Iadonisi, and Heather Grubola for 6ABC. 

“I went to the doctors and we found out that I had stage 1B2 cervical cancer,” Erin said. 

Her treatment included three rounds of chemotherapy and a hysterectomy. 

“So then we knew right from then that I wasn’t going to be able to carry a baby,” she said. “I got some eggs taken out and then we took a pause from there.” 

A few years later, they found the perfect surrogate who helped bring their baby Frankie into the world last year on Erin’s 33rd birthday.

The couple were so overwhelmed with gratitude that they started to look for ways to give back. 

They found it in Haymakers for Hope, which is organizing a boxing event to “raise awareness and money for knocking out cancer,” said Joey, who signed up to participate as a boxer. 

He has already managed to raise more than $7,500 that will go towards research for cancer. 

Read more about Erin and Joey D’Avanzo’s family journey and watch the whole video at 6ABC.