Amanda Rice's Chick Mission: Fighting Cancer & Infertility

0:00Breast cancer is hitting younger women harder these days, with rates climbing for those under 50, according to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Chemo often messes with fertility, and freezing eggs can run $10,000 to $50,000, putting it out of reach for many patients. That's where Amanda Rice steps in. Diagnosed in her 30s without kids, she froze her own eggs before treatment but got denied by insurance. In 2017, while battling cancer, she launched the Chick Mission, a non-profit handing out grants for egg freezing in 12 states, including Texas. They've awarded over 800 grants so far, leading to 13 babies born and two more on the way that they know of. One recipient, Emily Speegleman, also hit with breast cancer in her 30s, used the grant to save her dream of a family instead of selling her home. Thanks to Rice's push, more than 20 states now mandate coverage for fertility preservation in certain health plans like Texas' House Bill, 1649 from 2023.

1:01Demand is surging, though, with first quarter of 2026 grants double last years. As young cancer fighters keep rising, Rice aims to change every state law, making grants obsolete so survivors can focus on life after treatment, without this extra hurdle. That wraps El Paso News today, brought to you with AI, I'm Cory with the Story.