Directors

Becky Cwiek

Life can change in an instant.  Anyone who has ever been part of a traumatic experience or something like a diagnosis of cancer knows this well.

My life turned upside down in the middle of a grocery store with my 3 year-old son in the shopping cart.  My doctor had called me on my cell phone to inform me that my recent biopsy confirmed I had breast cancer.  It is funny how I can retrace the steps of every moment after I heard those dreaded words.  Everything was moving in slow motion.  At the same time my world began this spinning motion, your mind is trying to keep up with the thousands of thoughts that are flooding in your head.  Many of you know exactly what I mean. 

So here I was, 37 years old in November of 2001 faced with a diagnosis of something I knew nothing about. Though I had my share of difficult days in the beginning, the blessings since that time have been enormous.  Everyday is truly a gift and I am grateful, I will never forget where I have been and never take a moment for granted.

Fast forward four years after my diagnosis and another life changing experience impacted my life. I had lost one of my very best friends to this disease.  Paula and I were diagnosed 10 days apart and had very similar lives.  We armed ourselves with books and information trying to figure out breast cancer.  Well, we never figured it out.  We never  understood why mine went away or why hers kept coming back. 

Though it was a very difficult time, I knew I could not be consumed with sadness and had to redirect my focus. I came across an article my MAMM magazine about the National Breast Cancer Coalition.  In an instant I knew this was something I had to be part of.  Within a half hour I decided I was going to go to Washington D.C. for their annual conference and would start a fundraising campaign to cover my expenses.

I quickly learned how to be an effective advocate and it came with ease. I love people and care deeply about others who are still fighting this disease. My voice makes a difference. I quickly began consuming information to educate myself and to be part of the community of those striving to eradicate this disease.  I won’t be the one who finds a cure, but I will definitely do my part in making a difference.  This is my life long dream, anything is possible and we will never give up until we find a CURE.    

Kathleen Livingston

Kathleen Livingston is an inflammatory breast cancer patient and has been fighting this disease for 10 years. Her goal is to use her talents and resources to assist organizations and individuals (both other cancer patients and the medical profession) to eradicate this disease. She of course, knows first hand how devastating this disease is and she has known many patients over the 10 year span, who have not survived this disease. Breast cancer patients and the medical profession need better tools to fight this disease, because what currently exists, is not effective enough. 

Sandy Snedecor

Sandy M. Snedecor, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 and had a recurrence in late 2000.  Her first involvement in advocacy work was with the University of Michigan’s Breast Cancer Advocate Advisory Committee (UM BCAAC) in 2006. The strong commitment to advocacy and action shared by the members of that group lead her to join the Michigan Breast Cancer Coalition.  She is a member of the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC), a graduate of the NBCC’s Project Lead advocacy training and a member of the Sister’s Network, Inc.  In 2007 Sandy served as a “consumer” grant reviewer for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program.

Her commitment to finding a cure for this disease shows through her diligent work in community outreach and her work with the MIBCC.

Maria Lyzen

"When you make plans...God laughs." I had just retired from a corporate position and celebrated with a cruise to the Baltic with my husband and several very good friends. Looking forward to the "Golden Years" of the life I had planned for myself and husband, we returned home in September, 2001 and watched on television the horrific images of the Twin Towers being attacked by airplanes. There was a moment that I couldn't believe what I was seeing the images were not real. I stayed in my pajamas most of that morning and later took a bath and noticed a lump. Another image that did not seem real. I tried to put both images out of my mind. I had a history of lumps before which turned out to be benign. I am a nurse so I did make an appointment and after several mammograms and biopsies I received the news that I had breast cancer. I cancelled our plans to winter in Hawaii.

At the same time my daughter in law received news that she had colon cancer. So both of us recovered together in my home while family members took care of us. My brother quit his job and came to take care of me, my home and chauffer me to chemotherapy while my husband drove my daughter in law to her appointments and therapies.

Valerie has been an active advocate since being diagnosed with a very rare cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, in 2007. She has also been a resource for research, care-giving and navigating a cancer diagnosis for close friends and family battling cancer since 1985. She has been most actively involved as a research advocate since 2007 having participated in the NBCC Advocacy Training Conference and Lobby Day as well as Scientific Project Lead, in addition to the AACR Scientist-Survivor Program, RAF: Focus on Research 2009, the Komen AIS Program 2009 and the Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups Leadership Forum. She has participated in peer review for the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) (CDMRP) Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) and for Komen For The Cure. Educationally, she has attended many leading cancer conferences and symposiums including, ASCO,AACR, SABCS, 1st International IBC Symposium; Susan Love 6th Int'l Symposium. (NCCS) National Coalition of Cancer Suvivorship has appointed her a "super advocate"; she was honored with the "Local Hero Award" by the Susan G. Komen Foundation and served as a delegate from Michigan to the LAF Livestrong Summit. She is an Ambassador for Inflammatory Breast Cancer Education and Awareness through the Morgan Welch IBC Research Program and Clinic at M.D. Anderson Center, Houston, Texas, is a Board Member of The Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation (IBCF), and is involved in her home state of Michigan with the University of Michigan Breast Cancer Advocate Advisory Committee (UM BCAAC); The Michigan Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC); a leader for the Breast Networking Group at Gilda's Club in Southeast Michigan; facilitator at Sister's Hope Retreat; as well as serving as a camp counsellor for "Camp Carefree" at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.

Evelyn R. Barrack, Ph.D.