We See You

As a small patient advocate organization, many times we felt that we could barely scratch the surface for patient advocates. Conferences are very expensive for travel, lodging and meals, and very often patient advocates are overwhelmed with these type of expenses. Many patient advocates are also in active treatment adding the the financial toxicity of the breast cancer epidemic.

Our mission has become more in focus now that we are executing our “We See You Campaign”, rewarding outstanding advocates who are bridging the gap by collaborating with doctors, researchers and other actors in the industry.

Valerie Fraser

Our first recipient of the “We See You Campaign” is Valerie Fraser. Valerie is an incredible advocate who has been an active cancer research advocate in Michigan, nationally and internationally since being diagnosed with the most aggressive form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, in 2007.

She has contributed to being a resource for patient-centered care through education, research and one on one patient navigation of a cancer diagnosis for countless cancer patients, close friends and family since 1985. In 2007 following her own rare cancer diagnosis, she became actively involved as a research and policy advocate, graduating from many leading programs such as the NBCC Scientific, Clinical Trials and Quality Care Project LEAD programs, the AACR Scientist-Survivor Program, RAN Focus on Research, Komen AIS and the National Coalition of Cancer Survivorship CPAT Program. She went on to help found the Inflammatory Breast Cancer International Consortium (https://ibcic.org/) and serves as an Officer and their Director of Research and Advocacy. She has also served as the Michigan Legislative Field Coordinator for the National Breast Cancer Coalition for many years and is also a Member of their Board of Directors.

In the cancer research world, Valerie has worked closely with other advocates and researchers on advisory committees, scientific working groups, research projects and clinical trials and has contributed to publications at leading institutions such as NCI SWOG, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Michigan, the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Northwestern University, Weill Cornell Medicine and participates in peer review for organizations such as the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), the CDMRP Breast Cancer Research Program, Komen for the Cure and the California Breast Cancer Research Program and has served on planning and steering committees for national and international cancer meetings, workshops and symposia.

To keep current on the latest research she annually attends many leading cancer conferences, provides outreach through community organizations, supports groups and retreat programs and is a sought-after speaker nationally and internationally. She also serves as Ambassador for the Patient Centered Outcomes Research (PCORI) program and for Inflammatory Breast Cancer Education and Awareness through the Morgan Welch IBC Research Program and Clinic at M.D. Anderson Center, Houston, Texas.

We are honored to give the first award to Valerie and are proud to recognize her contributions, dedication and tireless efforts to educate, navigate, impact legislation and public policy and continue to contribute to the critically important research that will bring an end to breast cancer for those affected by it and future generations!