Jennifer Goodman Linn, Fearless Fighter

Jennifer Goodman Linn, 40, the founder of Cycle for Survival who raised millions of dollars to help doctors find cures for rare cancers, died July 20, YouFearless.com announced.

“It is with great sadness that we want to inform all of you who have supported and loved Jen throughout the years that she passed away earlier this morning. As tough as a fighter Jen was, her death was peaceful and she did not seem to be suffering; she was surrounded by loved ones. Obviously this is tragic and heartbreaking for all of us, but we are grateful that she is no longer suffering.”

Jen battled a rare cancer that inspired thousands to join her quest to put a positive spin on treatments. She's turned adversity into strength and opportunity to form the  fundraiser. An award-winning motivational speaker and marketing strategy consultant, she was inducted into the Livingston High School Hall of Fame this past fall. Her personal story was featured in Redbook, Self, and The Wall Street Journal.

For the past six years, Jen slogged through eight courses of chemotherapy to shrink the tumors and six grueling surgeries to remove them. “Five relapses later, I continue to beat the odds by not giving in to the disease -- by living a fearless life,” Jen wrote on her YouFearless website.

Jen  her diagnosis and treatment to remission and survival – and most recent battle for a wide  on YouFearless. She appeared on The Today Show and was interviewed on CBS, ABC, MSNBC, and FOX. She was the recipient of Self Magazine’s Do Good Award in 2008, was named one of Kraft Foods’ 100 Extraordinary Women in 2009, and was a . She was also presented with the Wynona M. Lipman Empowerment Award by the State of New Jersey in 2008.

“I was 33 years old and had just found out that I had a rare type of cancer and my odds of surviving were 50/50,” Jen wrote (. “I vowed that I would become my own best advocate. I would not only be a star patient but I would be a star at taking care of myself and my physical, nutritional and spiritual needs.”

She  thousands of people to help her in her efforts to support research on rare cancers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Rare cancers are far more prevalent than the term implies – more than half of people with cancer have a form of the disease considered "rare." The list includes pancreatic, sarcoma, uterine, cervical, brain, metastatic melanoma, stomach cancer and all pediatric cancers.

On Wednesday, Cycle for Survival posted on its website: In Honor of Jen,

"The Cycle for Survival team wishes to share our profound sorrow at the passing of our founder, Jennifer Goodman Linn. 

Jen taught all of us to live fearlessly, and that each of us has the power to truly make a difference. She inspired us and countless others, and words cannot express how deeply she will be missed. 

In her honor, we will work tirelessly to carry out her extraordinary vision."

The funeral will be held at Riverside Memorial Chapel, located at 180 West 76th Street (near Amsterdam Avenue) at 11:45 a.m., Friday, July 22, 2011.

According to YouFearless.com: “In lieu of flowers, Jen preferred that you please consider donations to Cycle for Survival (www.cycleforsurvival.org) to keep alive her determined fight to eradicate rare cancers.”

Livingston has plans to hold Cycle 2012 on Feb. 11, 2012. See Jen's story here on the Cycle for Survival website. To make a donation or send a note to the family, click here. She is the daughter of Len and Sandy Goodman of Livingston.