I have known Rebecca since b/4 she was born. I’m her mom. She made her film debut at her home birth video and has been a bit of a ham ever since.

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I have known Rebecca since b/4 she was born. I’m her mom. She made her film debut at her home birth video and has been a bit of a ham ever since. She has always been the little princess. I can hardly complain b/c I have made her that way! She read early and was voracious! It was murder keeping the girl in books! whatever she read, whether it was the Babysitter Club or Stephan King, she learned a little something and filed it away. She was always chatty and could speak with adults on a variety of subjects and was always entertaining. She always threw herself into things full on and was always busy. When her father and I decided to send her to a predominantly black grade school way across town we got alot of flack from friends and family but it made her strong, confident and pretty fearless, even if she didn’t realize it at the time. After her father died (of FAP) when she was 6 years old, she really learned to be self-reliant. Due to my "high-pressure" job, Bec had to get herself going in the morning and be at her bus stop by 7:15 am to be bussed to the south side every day. If/when she missed the bus, she learned to take public transportation to 35th st by herself by the end of 4th grade! She’d have to call me at each leg of the trip, at the berwyn el stop, at the michigan ave bus stop and again when she got to school. I know adults who can't follow directions that well! This early experience of knowing how it felt to be "the only spot in the room" helped her develop compassion for people very early. She also learned to get along with people who were not like her. Because she did not go to school in our neighborhood, she had friends all over the city. By 6th grade she was going downtown to "study" with her classmates at the harold washington library on saturday. Lord knows what she was really doing! The high school years were not as horrible as some people that I’ve known. Bec was a pretty typical teenager, angry, bitchy and obsessed with clothes and boys and talking on the phone. There were "incidents" which I will not divulge here (I’ll save them for another time). One of my proudest moments was when Bec went to Washington D.C. with her school to protest the funding of the school of the americas. As an old hippie, it was wonderful to have my baby protesting for peace. Getting through college was a long process b/c middle class america doesn’t get financial aid, unless of course, you drop a kid or two. So childless Rebecca went to college on the "seven-year" plan, with me co-signing for many student loans. Just when life was getting interesting for my darling girl, starting her career, maybe even making more than $1,300 a year, she gets hit with this fucked-up disease. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. And so will this. I love my daughter more than I can say. I would do ANYTHING if I could take this away. All I can do is be there. And I will...be there. I love ya, baby!!

Mom

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I met Rebecca through Capoeira almost three years ago, and sometimes I cannot even believe it has been that long. Since I have met her, she became my friend quickly, and it was amazing to see how she can give off that positve energy to everyone and make people feel so comfortable and relaxed when she is around.

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I met Rebecca through Capoeira almost three years ago, and sometimes I cannot even believe it has been that long. Since I have met her, she became my friend quickly, and it was amazing to see how she can give off that positve energy to everyone and make people feel so comfortable and relaxed when she is around. That is the type of person Rebecca is. I may have not known Rebecca as long as others, but I am glad that she is apart of my life. When I heard the news about her health condition, I did not know what to say or do. But through this time I have learned that she is incredibly strong and dedicated to beat this thing at all costs, and with that she has so much help from her friends and family. It’s so great to see how much support she has gotten from everyone, donating and contributing apart of their life to support and care for Rebecca.

Thank you Rebecca for being my friend, my sister, my Capoeira partner.

Brian Schab

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I’ve seen Rebecca grow from a shy, timid beginner in capoeira class to a confident, strong, passionate capoeirista.

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I’ve seen Rebecca grow from a shy, timid beginner in capoeira class to a confident, strong, passionate capoeirista. I’m constantly impressed for her dedication to capoeira, and I am even more impressed by her positive attitude towards her current condition. Whereas most people will let illness bring them down, Rebecca is using period in her life to make her much stronger.

I'm very lucky that Rebecca is part of my capoeira family. Muita Axe'!

Rhea/Agora

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There are so many words to describe my best friend Rebecca Babcock. Beautiful, intelligent, funny, strong, and most of all courageous only to name a few. I met Rebecca my freshman year of high school at St. Scholastica and we’ve remained best friends ever since.

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There are so many words to describe my best friend Rebecca Babcock. Beautiful, intelligent, funny, strong, and most of all courageous only to name a few. I met Rebecca my freshman year of high school at St. Scholastica and we’ve remained best friends ever since. We’ve seen each other through so many ups and downs throughout our adolescence and adulthood. During the lowest moments of my life, Rebecca was right there, ready to help mend the scars. Rebecca is a great friend and has always been there for me and I love her for that.

Right now, Rebecca is going through a time in her life where she needs the love and support of her friends and family the most. In March of this year, Rebecca was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. When I received the news, I was speechless. There were so many emotions going on inside of me. I didn’t know what to do or think. How could something like this happen to someone so young and perfectly healthy? I know it’s hard to have to find out something like that. Then I realized that Rebecca is one of the strongest people that I have ever met and as her mother Mary told me, she has youth and strength on her side. Looking at Rebecca now, you would never guess that this young woman was fighting off cancer. She’s so full of life and energy. She has so many friends and family with her on her journey. Her spirits are up and she’s still the same old Rebecca that we all love. She definitely hasn’t let this pull her away from doing the things that she loves the most like capoeira. She definitely knows how to kick some butt in capoeira so I know that she can kick cancer in the butt.

Rebecca is not only fighting off cancer. She’s also fighting off the horrendous medical bills that come along with all of her treatments. She could use all of our help. This site was designed to help raise money for her and with the support from all of you, I know together, we can be successful! There is a convenient donation button on this web site to make it easier for all you to donate. So please, let’s help Rebecca kick cancer in the butt! Thank you so much!

I love you a whole bunch Rebecca! I’m here for you always!

Rose

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I met Becca 5 years ago through a friend of a friend. She was dating my boyfriends good friend. She was this sweet bubbly personality with sharp wit! Our connection was written in the stars.

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I met Becca 5 years ago through a friend of a friend. She was dating my boyfriends good friend. She was this sweet bubbly personality with sharp wit! Our connection was written in the stars. She introduced me to all of her cooky friends, and she has always been welcoming to me, though I haven’t known her as long as some. We have spent many fun times together partying, dancing, and laughing. I have watched her go through college, help run and model for a clothing line, and become the capoeira queen. She has made me so proud just to be her friend.

We became so close that when it came time for me to pick a wedding party, she was part of it without hesitation. It broke my heart the day she told me that she couldn’t be in my party, not because she would be out of town, or couldn’t afford the dress....but because she had cancer. Becca has always been a strong person, going through things lots of people her age have not been through. Now she had to fight yet another obstacle people her age don’t usually have to face. I am not and have never been afraid for Becca, because she is strong and intelligent, if anyone can make it through this Becca can. Her sweet nature has garnered her many friends that are all here to support her through it all. All of the love and care that she has put into her relationships with her friends are now coming back. I pray for my friend Becca everyday, and I hope all of you do the same.

With love and respect for my girl Becca,
Serena

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Rebecca has a calm and peaceful expression when playing capoeira making her look like she never breaks a sweat. Capoeira gives her much strength...

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Rebecca has a calm and peaceful expression when playing capoeira making her look like she never breaks a sweat. Capoeira gives her much strength and in turn, Rebecca has inspired many in the community to train harder and be a better person. She also has a wonderfully quirky sense of humor that is intelligent and testament to her character. I’ve only had a few one on one conversations with Rebecca, but I know she is a good listener and doesn’t waste her breath on negative words. She has an interesting background that has influenced who she is now... tough and sweet.

Sharon

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I met Becca 5 years ago through a friend of a friend. She was dating my boyfriends good friend. She was this sweet bubbly personality with sharp wit! Our connection was written in the stars.

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I first met Becca when we were all piled up in Rebecca Cerna’s car going to a party... good times! We became much better friends when I discovered that she and Ryan only lived a short bus ride away from my house. Since then, we’ve Jury-fied it more times than I can remember, kicked capoeira boo-tay, taken videos of hilarious fat kids at concerts, gone fabric shopping for costumes; and "purple, purple-pink, pink", "twinkle-twinkle", and "anonymous" have become household names in this crazy world of ours. Simon has become by adopted dog, and her friends that I’ve met along the way have proved themselves to be good as gold to me (I love you, Rose, Ro, Tif, & Jonah!). I want to thank Becca for being there to listen to me jap-out, all the rides home, laughing at my stupidity, helping to discover that my true name is Yeehawshilbertaasha, and understanding another kindred soul who "wears too much pink". Real friends help to enrich our lives, and she definitely qualifies in my book!

Yaasha

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