2025 | Events and Advocacy
Melanoma Research Alliance Patient Exchange Forum
February 26, 2025*
Washington, DC & Virtual
MRF Advocacy Days 2025
March 2-4, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Join melanoma patients, caregivers, supporters and advocates from across the country on March 2-4, 2025, in Washington, DC to learn about issues facing the melanoma community, our community’s key legislative priorities and then share your story with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Register now
Deloitte NextGen Therapies Industry Working Group Summit
March 5-7, 2025 Westlake, TX
Deloitte's NextGen Therapies IWG, established in 2019, serves as a forum for exchanging perspectives and driving actionable discussion on critical topics that impact patient access to transformational therapies. The IWG’s mission is to foster collaboration among advanced therapy leaders, enabling them to share cutting-edge practices, harmonize industry-wide standards, and co-create transformative solutions that ultimately enhance the lives of patients, providers, and other relevant stakeholders. To achieve this mission, the IWG hosts executive meetings to discuss relevant industry topics, address pain points, and identify opportunities to raise the tide for all the boats.
Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy Summit 2025
March 19-20, 2025, in New York City at the Alexandria Center for Life Sciences
I’m very to be invited to speak and attend the The Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy Summit 2025
This event is an extra special highlight of both my survivorship and advocacy engagement as I will finally get to meet Dr Steven Rosenberg as he will be honored at the Gala Luncheon on March 20th following the event. Space is limited- Click the link below to register and/or sponsor by March 10.
Phacilitate Advanced Therapies Week 2025
Phacilitate Advanced Therapies Week 2025
January 20-23, 2025, at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
Events and Advocacy Engagements In 2024
Friends of Cancer Research Annual Conference
November 12, 2024
Ritz - Carlton Hotel in Washington, D.C.
As a Advisory Advocate, I participated in the working group and named a Co-Author for the White Paper, Enhancing Study Designs and Interpretation of Interim Overall Survival Data in Oncology Trials
Volunteer at The Melanoma Research Foundation Annual NYC Gala
On October 24, 2024, at The Plaza Hotel in NYC, I returned this year as a volunteer for the event. My main role for the evening was as a greeter and assisted with paddle raising for this years Fund A Grant.
Emily Whitehead Foundation Believe Ball
Honored as a Warrior Recipient at the EWF Annual Gala.
September 27, 2024
at the Crystal Tea Room, Philadelphia, PA
Biotech Alchemy Life Sciences Summit
Panel Participant-September 26, 2024
VUE on 50, Philadelphia, PA
ASCO Annual Conference 2024
May 31 through June 4, 2024 at the McCormack center in Chicago Illinois
FOCR Cell Therapies Webinar for Advocates
Virtual meeting held on May 23, 2024, as a follow up to the in person Cell Therapies meeting held on May 6, 2024
MRF Advocacy Days 2024
March 3-5, 2024 in Washington DCMarch 3-5, 2024 in Washington DC
MRA 2024 Scientific Retreat
MRA 2024 Scientific Retreat
February 22-23, 2024, in Washington D.C. February 22-23, 2024 in Washington DC
Panel Speaker
MRA 2024 Scientific Retreat
February 21, 2024, in Washington D.C.
Events and Advocacy Engagement In 2023
MRF NYC Gala Courage Award Recipient
On October 26, 2023, I was be given the Courage Award by the MRF as the first ever for Mucosal Melanoma. This year marks my five-year anniversary from my diagnosis and in my world that means I beat what little odds there are.
Thank you everybody for your support and God bless
Volunteer at the 2023 MRF Denver Gala
September 21, 2023, Volunteering with the Melanoma Research Foundation at the Annual Denver Gala. My role for the evening was as a greeter and also the photographer's assistant.
EveryLife Foundation RARE Across America Virtual Hill Days August 2023
Volunteering my voice and sharing my story with the RDLA for Virtual Hill Day
Giving back and donating with a resource that is not $
On July 28, 2023, after 3 1/2 years of growing my hair out, I finally got it cut and donated 6 strands of hair, each 9 inches long to Children With Hair Loss. After I survived from what was supposed to be a terminal fate, i wanted to give back in a way that was not measured in a monetary value but in a resource that can only be produced by a will to do so and Time.
Volunteer with Sun-Bus
July 11, 2023, At Water World in Denver, Colorado. I spent the day with Thje Sun-Bus and The Colorado Melanoma Foundation Volunteering. Such an important cause!
Melanoma Research Foundation-Ask the Expert Webinar June 29, 2023
MRF Ask the Expert-Early Detection of Mucosal Melanoma Through routine Health Exams.
1st Melanoma Charity Pickleball Fest-June 24, 2023 in McKinney, TX
Welcome to the 1st Melanoma Charity Pickleball Fest. Hosted at The Courts of McKinney in McKinney, TX. There will be a food truck, vendors, and swag bags. We will have raffles and live music. Tupps Brewery has donated adult beverages. All proceeds of this event will go the #OutOfTheShadows Campaign to the Melanoma Research Foundation, fund research for #MucosalMelanoma
Community Oncology Alliance Hill Day-June 13, 2023 on Capital Hill in Washington D.C.
Travel to Washington D.C. to meet with my state legislators and share my cancer story discuss about the changes needed regarding PBM reform.
I wrote a letter to the Governor of the State of Texas and replied with this-May 2023
I wrote a letter to the Governor of the State of Texas and replied with this-May 2023
In April of 2023 I sent a letter to the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, and requested to officially declare that the month of May be known as
Melanoma Awareness Month.
In the 1st week of May in 2023, I received a reply.
It's OFFICIAL!
AIM At Melanoma Steps Against Melanoma 5K Volunteer May 6th, 2023, in Dallas, TX
I wrote a letter to the Governor of the State of Texas and replied with this-May 2023
The month of May is Melanoma Awareness Month, and I'll do anything I can to help and so when I learned of this event in my hometown, I signed up to help and volunteer.
MRA Melanoma Exchange Patient Forum March 8, 2023, in Washington D.C.
Immediately following Advocacy Days with the MRF, I will be attended meetings with the Melanoma Research Alliance on March 8, 2023
MRF Advocacy Days March 5-7, 2023, on Capital Hill in Washington D.C.
I’m headed to Washington DC to spend my birthday meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. I have meetings with representatives from the district that I live in from North Texas including Keith Self along with meetings with representatives from Senator John Cornyn
When I was diagnosed in 2018 I didn’t know anybody in my area that had currently been fighting Mucosal Melanoma. I currently now know at least 2 to 3 people within 20 to 30 minutes from where I live that are fighting this. There’s gotta be something that can be done and more than I can do.
2022-My First in Person Events
MRF-Melanoma Reserarch Foundation-My 1st in Person Event as a Speaker
A HYBRID WORKSHOP: December 16, 2022, Increasing Collaboration Amongst the Mucosal Melanoma Community
AIM At Melanoma-My 1st Symposium
September 24, 2022, Hosted by AIM at Melanoma Foundation and University of Colorado, Cancer Center and Center for Rare Melanoma in Aurora, CO