Liz's Story
LA Goes Pink (previously LA Beats Cancer) was inspired by the life of Liz Smagala Tate and founded by her husband, Phil Tate, and dear friends in 2014.
Liz's indomitable spirit was put to work early. When her family was expelled from Poland and immigrated to the United States in 1983, Liz was only eight years old.
Liz as a child
Liz's 8th Grade Yearbook
Though her first English lessons came from American TV (Spiderman and Dallas, as she recalls) Liz thrived in school. Attending university at UC Davis and law school at UCLA, she fell in love with Los Angeles. It was the city she and her husband, Phil, would call home.
Liz and Phil at UCLA
Diagnosed with stage IV triple negative breast cancer in 2013, just three months after the birth of her son, Lucas, Liz epitomized strength, courage, grace and resilience. No matter how dark the outlook or bad the news, Liz remained determined to stay positive and squeeze as much as she could out of life.
Liz with Lucas for his first birthday
Liz’s 38th birthday would be her last. Determined to make a difference, she researched countless cancer organizations and identified the Breast Cancer Research Foundation as the beneficiary of funds from her birthday party. That day she raised over $20,000 for life-changing research.
Liz and friends raising funds for research
LA Goes Pink is dedicated to Liz’s legacy of bold action and leadership, and her mission to put an end to cancer once and for all.
“Never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”