Page 97 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2025

GIVING BACK
Carter’s Champions
story by Cherie Ward photos courtesy of Carter’s Champions
When pals John Carter and Jourdan Derouen set out to create a grassroots breast cancer awareness organization seven years ago, little did they know they were blazing a hot pink trail of hope.
And not just for survivors of breast cancer, but also for friends, families, or just anyone whose life has been touched by the second leading cause of death worldwide. Cancer as a whole accounts for about 9.6 million annual global deaths.
“My aunt passed away from breast cancer,” Carter said. “The last month of her life, it really hit her pretty hard. I
And just like that, Carter’s Champions and the Pink Dress Run were born, and these dedicated friends never looked back. When they realized the event was quickly taking off, they established a board of directors. “We cherish our board,” Derouen said. “We’re always bouncing ideas around. Some work, some bomb, but we are all a big group of friends coming together for an amazing cause.”
Carter’s Champions has also grown immeasurably since that first Pink Dress Run with the addition of other events, including Boot Scootin’ Boobies, held at Ground Zero in
was able to spend a lot of time with her and I still get a little choked up just thinking about what she went through.”
Both having watched loved ones suffer from cancer, Carter and Derouen knew they wanted to do something to help raise awareness and became ambassadors for the American Cancer Society’s Men Wear Pink effort. But being the creative types they are, they knew they could do so much more.
Biloxi, Boatin’ for Boobies, a boat parade partnership with Captain Al’s in Gulfport, and Bouy Fish Tournament,
a fishing tourney partnership with C. Roberds General Contractors in Ocean Springs.
Carter’s Champions
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December 2025 | 97