The teal road bike that was Denise Villarete’s fitness and mental health outlet now sits in her Orcutt living rom, reminding her of adventures past and inspiring her to fight on.

“Be grateful for everyday life. Sometimes things may seem mundane, but you get to look at it a different way, and those mundane things get to be the great days. Enjoy the good days, and the great things, and the lonely days. It’s a little sliver of life, and you learn so much about yourself through that season, so just enjoy what you can of every day for what it is. And, believe me, I know that’s hard,” said Villarete, who is the 2025 Day of Hope Ambassador.

Formerly a registered nurse at Marian Regional Medical Center, Villarete discovered her ovarian cancer through a routine exam in 2023. Her long-term treatme

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