Donna’s advocacy journey started in 2020 when she lost her sister Barbara to lung cancer after acting as her caregiver for more than a year. Donna had also cared for her daughter when she was diagnosed with Wilms tumor at the age of 5, and her niece amid her battle with lung cancer, as well as her sister-in-law and dear friend Ted throughout their cancer journeys. Fueled by grief, Donna decided to fight back, advocating for legislation expanding access to healthcare, tobacco cessation and research funding.
I wanted to pay it forward and be a caregiver. I’ve lost too many people. We need to be able to find a cure for cancer.
“By working together, we volunteers can endeavor to secure research dollars and expand access to prevention, early detection and quality treatment, saving countless lives in the process. I am proud to advocate on behalf of cancer patients and their caregivers. Over the last 40 years, I have had the honor of acting as a caregiver to my daughter, sister, niece, sister-in-law and friend. Standing beside someone through their cancer diagnosis and treatment – and, in some cases, their death – leaves an imprint on your heart, which motivates me to pursue cancer-focused policies.”