Recently, Dian “CJ” Corneliussen-James, co-founder of METAvivor.org, stepped down as President. We will continue to benefit from her passion and commitment as she serves in her new role as Director of Advocacy. We are pleased and fortunate that Kelly Lange stepped up to become our new President. Here is a message from Kelly to all our friends and supporters.
I am honored and humbled to accept the position of President of METAvivor Research and Support. As I look back on the founding of our organization, I am amazed at what has been accomplished by CJ, Avis, and their co-founders. These women were appalled at the lack of support and funding for metastatic breast cancer, and decided to do something about it. It took two years to establish the organization and raise enough money to award the first research grant. That first $55,000 was difficult; the yard sales, raffles, and concerts were time consuming and sometimes disappointing. But our founders (and their families) persevered, in spite of dealing with their own MBC.
Because of the hard work of our founders and early members, I find myself at the helm of a vital national organization. I have heard from many of you that our work to fund MBC research is critically important. As you and your supporters spread awareness of the MBC/BC research funding discrepancy, donations to our research fund have significantly increased. In 2011 we awarded two grants totaling $75,000 grants, and in 2012 we were able to increase that to three grants totaling $125,000. I am thrilled to announce that we anticipate awarding grants totaling at least $250,000 in 2013!
As I look forward to an exciting year, I am saddened that two of our co-founders, and many of our early members, are no longer with us to see the remarkable success that CJ and her team have achieved. METAvivor will continue our work to advocate that 30% of BC research dollars be dedicated to MBC research. We will continue to work hard to ensure that 100% of all donations to METAvivor will go directly to our research fund. We have secured sponsor funding for our minimal operating expenses, as well as for two of our three annual fundraisers. We are planning for the growth of our organization in the coming years, and will be launching a new awareness campaign in the coming months.
I am very grateful for this opportunity. Every time I lose a friend to MBC I reaffirm my commitment to this ending this horrible disease. I pledge to you that I will do my very best to lead METAvivor towards that goal.
~ Kelly Lange
You may contact Kelly at [email protected].
