Meet Our Heroes
A hero is a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life. The LIFE Event honors individuals, our heroes who have demonstrated courage in the face of breast cancer, and purpose in the fight to eradicate the disease.
LIFE HEROES
LIFE Heroes symbolize the lives, faces and stories of millions of women, men and children impacted by breast cancer. The LIFE Heroes we honor serve as our inspiration and motivation to continue a passionate fight against the disease that affects us all.
Read the inspiring stories of our Heroes below.
LPGA HEROES
Over the years, LPGA Pros at the LIFE Event have honored many friends and family members affected by breast cancer. These heroes are not only a personal inspiration to these pros, but are also an inspiration to us all to continue to work together to make a difference and reach our goals – LPGA Pros in the Fight to Eradicate Breast Cancer.
Helen Andrews
Breas Cancer Survivror and Mother of LPGA Player Donna Andrews
Pam Kuehne
Breast Cancer Survivor and Mother of LPGA Player Kelli Kuehne
Penny Hetherington
Breast Cancer Survivor and Mother of LPGA Player Rachel Hetherington
Patricia Nimocks
Breast Cancer Survivor and Sister of LPGA Player Beth Daniel
LIFE HERO STORIES
2019: Deborah L. Toppmeyer, MD
Dr. Deborah Toppmeyer is the Chief Medical Officer and Director of both the Stacy Goldstein Breast Cancer Center and the LIFE Center at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. She is also a professor of medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
An expert in breast cancer, breast cancer genetics and the design and implementation of clinical trials that offer promising new therapies targeted to specific types of breast cancer, Dr. Toppmeyer meets the needs the of the community by helping her patients navigate through treatment options while encouraging enrollment in clinical trials. She also simultaneously provides opportunities for students to learn cancer biology, cancer pharmacology, genetics and clinical care
Dr. Toppmeyer also serves as a core member for the Breast Committee of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, which is one of the nation's largest clinical cancer research organizations that conducts clinical trials in all types of adult cancers.
2018: Jennifer Merschdorf
Jennifer Merschdorf is the CEO of the Young Survival Coalition (YSC), the premier organization dedicated to the critical issues unique to young women who are diagnosed with breast cancer.
In 2010, both Jennifer and her mother were diagnosed with breast cancer. While undergoing treatment, she learned that YSC was looking for a new CEO who would energize and modernize the organization. With her background working for nonprofits and in the tech industry, Jennifer was the perfect candidate for the job.
Since then, Jennifer has merged traditional business strategy and large-scale nonprofit training with fresh and innovative thinking that utilizes new technologies to move YSC forward.
Jennifer and her husband Jeffrey Talley Gordon split their time between New York and the Hudson Valley. She is the proud parent of a 3.5 lb. Chihuahua rescue named Preston Maxwell Merschdorf, who also serves as the YSC mascot.
2018: Marjorie Stromberg Miller
Marjorie Stromberg Miller is an incredible example of strength, love and perseverance. She was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of 12 and with breast cancer at 26, just weeks after becoming engaged to her husband Sean.
Through genetic testing, it was discovered she has Li Fraumeni Syndrome, (LFS) is an inherited familial predisposition to a wide range of certain, often rare cancers. This is due to a change (mutation) in a tumor suppressor gene known as TP53. Simply put the carrier is 50% more likely to get other cancers. As a result, she has to have full body scans and MRI’s every year and blood work every four months.
Because she didn’t want to risk passing this gene on, she and Sean decided to attempt adoption. They were concerned they may not be able to adopt due to her cancer. However, within two weeks of submitting paperwork, they were selected by a birth mother, who had lost a friend to breast cancer and was moved by Marjorie’s strength and story. She and Sean are now the proud parents of Adele.
Today, in addition to her work as Writer/Editor for the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State, she assists with YSC’s Face 2 Face program. In this role, she speaks to cancer support groups and has dedicated her life to helping other young women with cancer.
2017: Scott Hamilton
Scott Hamilton likes to say he’s made a hobby of collecting life-threatening illnesses. While that isn’t his day job, it’s certainly part of his story, and it’s why he’s so passionate about encouraging others to live life to its fullest.
The Olympic Gold Medalist figure skater has experienced many unique highlights throughout his life, captivating the world with his gold medal performance at the 1984 Olympic Winter Games, then building an extensive career through sports commentary, performing and authoring two best-selling books.
But for all the success, he has also experienced deep heartbreak right alongside it. Scott has faced the devastating effects of cancer time and time again, first by losing his mother to breast cancer, and then having been diagnosed with cancer himself. In 1997, he overcame testicular cancer. In 2004 and 2010, he survived recurring pituitary brain tumors. He was diagnosed with a third occurrence of the benign pituitary brain tumor in 2016.
Despite these hardships, Scott has never lost his hope. In fact, it’s grown stronger. A passion was born in Scott to not only live each one of his days to the fullest, but to use his life to encourage others to do the same. Rather than weighing him down, these difficult circumstances have propelled him forward to a deeper faith in God, and a stronger drive to make a difference.
In 2014, he created the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, by expanding the mission of the Initiative he began at the Cleveland Clinic in 1998. CARES stands for the Cancer Alliance for Research, Education and Survivorship, and funds cancer research and early detection programs. Also in 2014, in giving back to the skating community, he founded the Scott Hamilton Skating Academy, in partnership with the Nashville Predators, in Antioch, TN.
Scott lives outside Nashville with his wife Tracie and their 4 kids, and enjoys golfing whenever his hectic schedule allows.
2017: Kriss Fierro
Born in Mexico, Kriss Fierro has always had a warrior spirit. She immigrated alone to the U.S. on a scholarship to learn English at the age of 15. In 2014, at the age of 33, she was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer.
Then, during her first examination with Dr. Deborah Toppmeyer at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey (RCINJ), Dr. Toppmeyer found a lymph node in her low anterior cervical area which changed the diagnosis to stage IV cancer. This led to an aggressive treatment regiment for the past three years.
Kriss made a decision to not feel sorry for herself but to serve as a model for others. She is a constant positive presence at RCINJ, even dressing as Mrs. Claus to deliver presents to pediatric patients during the holidays…with funds raised by her own supporters.
These supporters created t-shirts that read “Supporting our Warrior Kriss.” That’s how she defines herself and how she has led her life.
Today, Kriss is cancer free. She and her husband, Danny, and daughter, Bella, along with her mother and other family members, continue in their fight to help others.
2016: Jim and Beth Vernon
In 2006, at the age of 39, Beth Vernon was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Doctors told her it was aggressive due her age and pathology reports, so the young mother of two girls – ages 8 and 5 at the time - made the decision to have a double mastectomy to prevent recurrence. Surgery revealed a somewhat large 4mm tumor. What followed were six months of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation.
Just six months later, her husband, Jim, a PGA Professional, was diagnosed with Melanoma. Their world had been turned upside down…but they had the support of each other, family and friends to fight help them fight through.
Jim and Beth have a unique tie to Heather Farr, one of the women who inspired the formation of the Val Skinner Foundation. Jim is the PGA Director of Golf at Hermitage Golf Course in Hermitage, Tenn. For years, Hermitage was the site of the Sara Lee Classic, a popular stop on the LPGA Tour. It was also one of Heather’s favorite events.
She played one of her final events – a six-hole skins game – at Hermitage in 1992, one year before she died. Course owner Mike Eller, whose wife is a breast cancer survivor, and country music star Vince Gill helped raise funds for Heather. Today, a plaque at the course commemorates Heather and her courageous fight.
As Jim and Beth struggled through their treatments, they drew strength from thinking of what Heather must have endured. Jim, who was named the 2013 Tennessee PGA Golf Professional of the Year, recently completed his 20th year at Hermitage. It’s fitting that the Val Skinner Foundation come full circle to honor a couple that have a connection to Heather.
Today, both are cancer free and they and their daughters – Bailey and Anna – continue to be advocates for the eradication of breast cancer. Beth was featured in Martina McBride’s 2011 video for the song “I’m Gonna Love You Through It.” She has also worked tirelessly for the TN Breast Cancer Coalition to raise thousands for breast cancer research, much of it through a golf tournament held at Hermitage Golf Course.
2015: Ariana and Maria Saenz
Porter, Texas native and First Tee of Greater Houston member Ariana Saenz, 15, was one of 80 junior golfers from across the country that earned an invitation to the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship National Finals held at Augusta National Golf Club.
But Ariana is more than your typical golf prodigy, she’s a story of inspiration for mothers and daughters everywhere.
Ariana began playing golf after undergoing open-heart surgery at age 3. Following the surgery, her doctors suggested that she take up an activity that would keep her active. Her father bought her a set of toy golf clubs, and she’s been playing ever since.
In 2015, her golf game became more than just healthy exercise. It became a key component of her mother’s battle with breast cancer.
Her mother, Maria, was diagnosed in February. Soon after, Ariana signed up for the Drive, Chip & Putt competition in part to offer her mother a distraction from the difficult months ahead. Ariana reached the regional qualifier – one step away from Augusta National – but had to compete without her mother present due to scheduled chemotherapy treatments.
Playing for her mother, Ariana went on to capture the Girls 14-15 Division at the South Central regional qualifier with a score of 119 points. Afterwards, she phoned home to tell her anxious mother they would be heading to the Masters for the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship.
Ariana was also selected to play at the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach in September 2014. Ariana credits the game of golf for getting both her and her mother through tough times in their lives and she strives to give back by participating in the First Tee program and encouraging others to pick up the game.
2015: Jamie Pleva Nickerson and Ted Pleva
At the young age of 29, Jamie Pleva Nickerson was diagnosed with Stage I triple negative breast cancer. Her diagnosis came at a time when Jamie and her family were already preparing to say goodbye to her sister, Tracy, who was losing her nine-year battle with the disease.
With Tracy in treatment in New Jersey and Jaime in treatment in New York, their parents then spent months going back and forth between their two daughters’ bedsides making sure to never leave one alone.
Things would get more difficult. Jaime’s father, Ted, had been heartbroken when told that a second daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer. Doctors had already determined that he carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, which is highly correlated with the disease.
Ted had already lost his mother to cancer and two of his aunts to breast cancer before losing his daughter to the disease.
Three months after Jaime was diagnosed with breast cancer, Tracy lost her battle. Jaime struggled with how she would be strong enough to survive when her sister could not.
Drawing on strength from her family, Jaime decided to take back the power from cancer. She had her eggs retrieved and frozen, giving her something extra to fight for – her future family.
One facing a difficult fight with cancer and the other now genetically responsible for it, Jaime and Ted turned to each other for strength.
As they continue their fight, Jaime and her father strive to show other families affected by the disease that they can also keep fighting and beat breast cancer.
2014: Annie Goodman
At age 30 and with no family history suggesting the likelihood, Annie Goodman was diagnosed with Stage 2B triple negative breast cancer in 2012. Within months, the cancer had spread to her ovaries, lungs and brain. By the end of the year, she had undergone a double mastectomy and reconstruction, a complete hysterectomy and surgery to remove the tumors from her brain. Since her initial diagnosis, the cancer has progressed to stage IV, or metastatic disease.
During her treatment, Goodman was discovered to have the BRCA1 genetic mutation, which is closely linked to triple negative breast cancer. The BRCA1 mutation is a focus of research at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey (RCINJ).
Unwilling to give in, Goodman has fought the disease every day while working to raise awareness about triple negative breast cancer. She became involved in the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, co-hosts The Stupid Cancer Show, a podcast for young adults battling cancer, and blogs regularly about her experiences in and out of the doctor’s office.
A former producer for the Fox News show Your World with Neil Cavuto, Goodman left her position in order to receive long-term disability support. She plans to return to television when able, but now dedicates her time to her own treatment and advocacy. She lives in New York City.
2014: Aimee Parani
Aimee Parani and her husband, Chris, were overjoyed to learn that their second child, due in August 2013, would be a girl. A day later, her doctor called to tell Aimee she had breast cancer.
After initially being told by doctors in Florida that she would need to terminate the pregnancy to treat the cancer, Aimee and her family, which included Chris and four-year-old Gregory, moved home to New Jersey, searched for new doctors and endured months of specialized cancer treatment before giving birth to a healthy Paige Virginia Parani in August of 2013.
During the ordeal, Aimee was treated at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey by Dr. Deborah Toppmeyer. She underwent five months of chemotherapy during her pregnancy and a double mastectomy and reconstruction just weeks after giving birth.
The Paranis are a shining example of the work being done at RCINJ. They have recently shared their story with the Courier News in central New Jersey as well as other media outlets in the area.
The family owns a coffee shop in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, but remains in New Jersey with family as Aimee continues treatment for cancer.
2013: Cati Diamond Stone
Cati Diamond Stone is the Executive Director of the Greater Atlanta Affiliate of Susan G. Komen and a breast cancer survivor. Diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer in April 2010, Stone began seeking opportunities to help others battling cancer.
After more than a year and a half of treatment that included chemotherapy, radiation and a mastectomy, she left her job as a general counsel for a Fortune 500 company to oversee development for non-profit Cancer Legal Line, which provides legal services at no cost for those affected by cancer.
Stone became an active supporter of Susan G. Komen when she learned that a drug used in the treatment of her aggressive cancer, Herceptin, was developed through funding provided by the organization. Since her diagnosis, Stone has participated in numerous Race for the Cure events and her 3-day team has raised more than $50,000 for breast cancer research.
She joined Susan G. Komen of Greater Atlanta in her current role in April 2013, in part to be closer to her family in Alabama.
2013: Malaya Southern
Malaya Southern was diagnosed with breast cancer days before Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast and months before her wedding. With the development of her treatment plan delayed and complicated by the aftermath of the storm, she decided to visit the Cancer Institute of New Jersey for her treatment.
Diagnosed as Stage IV triple-negative, she began chemotherapy on December 20, 2012. Given her situation, she and her fiancé, Sean, were married in front of friends and family on Dec. 29 so that he could be with her as she went through treatment. The two have scheduled a larger wedding for June 20.
After treatment initially showed signs of progress, new growth developed in May of 2013. Malaya is currently between clinical trials developed through the Precision Medicine initiative at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
A member of a local roller derby team but unable to compete, Malaya shares her passion for the sport as a bench coach and by serving on the league’s board while also assisting with planning and fundraising.
She has participated in numerous breast cancer fundraising walks and continues to share her story to help others.
She works as a sales associate for a financial services company, and plans to continue working throughout her treatment.
2012: Lindsay Avner
Lindsay Avner is the founder and executive director of Bright Pink, a national non-profit organization that provides education and support to young women who are at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
Vowing not to let the disease strike her as it had three generations of women before her, Lindsay opted to have a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy shortly after graduating from college. At the time, Lindsay was the youngest patient nationally to opt for the procedure.
It was during her experience that Lindsay realized the lack of resources for women in her specific situation – young women at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer. After honing her marketing skills while working in brand management at Unilever, Lindsay founded Bright Pink in January 2007 to share her experience and resources with other young women across the country.
2012: Nikia Hammonds-Blakely
Having survived a life-altering bout with Breast Cancer at age 16 years old, Nikia Hammonds-Blakely is a singer, songwriter and motivational speaker who focuses her message on receiving physical and emotional healing with the help of God and family.
When she was a sophomore in high school, she found a lump in her breast that turned out to be a very aggressive form of cancer. Her doctors recommended a total mastectomy, but Nikia resisted. Instead she underwent several months of radiation and other surgeries.
As traumatic as it was, Nikia says her cancer also gave her a resolve she never had before. Once she decided she would beat her cancer and make the most of her life, she earned straight As and became the first person in her family to go to college. She would go on to earn an MBA, and is completing her PhD program studying organizational management.
Today she says surviving cancer has motivated her to take control of her total health, and she finds great joy in encourages others to do the same. After discovering pre-cancerous cells during a recent mammogram & biopsy, Nikia decided to take a very proactive step to prevent the likely reoccurrence of breast cancer by undergoing a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy.
2011: Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz represents Florida’ s 20th Congressional district and also serves as the Democratic Vice Chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues. Before joining the U.S. Congress, she was first a representative and later a Senator in the Florida State Legislature.
She is a passionate leader committed to improving the quality of life for children, lowering health care costs and protecting Social Security and Medicare among other issues.
In 2009, Wasserman Schultz revealed that she underwent seven surgeries related to breast cancer in 2008 while fulfilling her responsibilities as a member of the House and maintaining an aggressive campaign schedule.
She went public in order to raise awareness and hopefully alert young women specifically of the prevalence of breast cancer. Wasserman Schultz is respected by her colleagues as a fighter with tenacity and passion, and is an inspiration to many.
2011: Jennifer Griffin
On September 28, 2009, Jennifer Griffin discovered a lump while nursing her new baby, and was soon diagnosed with stage 3 Triple Negative breast cancer. After her diagnosis, she underwent many aggressive treatments that resulted in no evidence of the disease. She is now determined to encourage others fighting the disease.
Griffin is the National Security Correspondent for Fox News Channel and has been based at the Pentagon covering military and intelligence matters since March 2007. She frequently reports from Kabul, Afghanistan and has covered events such at Operation Enduring Freedom and the ongoing Israeli/Palestinian conflict in the Middle East.
2011: Jamie Ledezma
On Valentine’s Day 2007, 27-year-old Jamie Ledezma was diagnosed with breast cancer. She courageously fought breast cancer and underwent chemotherapy while 15 weeks pregnant. After six months of chemotherapy, she delivered a healthy baby boy before undergoing four additional rounds and a bilateral mastectomy that left her cancer-free.
Ledezma is a staff attorney at the Cancer Legal Resource Center and seizes every opportunity to educate others by sharing her experience as a young breast cancer survivor. She serves as the Public Policy Chair for the California Collaborative of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, on the Board of Directors for the Central Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and as a member on the Board of Directors for Sisterhood of Survivors.
2010: Angela and Nan Stanford
In 2009, Nan Stanford, mother of LPGA player Angela Stanford, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Together, Angela and Nan have publicly addressed her health and advocated for education on treatment options.
In 2010, Angela partnered with The Val Skinner Foundation and Veins for Life (VFL), an awareness program developed by C.R. Bard, Inc., to help breast cancer patients and their families take an active role in decisions regarding their chemotherapy treatment.
2010: Crystal King
In 2003, King was diagnosed with breast cancer. Because her mother had also been diagnosed just three years earlier, she was already involved in Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities.
In January 2008, King quit a great job on faith to follow a different path. She now works for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
As a Pink Together Survivor Ambassador, she works every day to help women overcome their own battles with breast cancer.
2009: Bridget Mooney
While a senior at Boston College University, Mooney discovered a lump in her left breast. During her annual health exam a nurse practitioner assured her that, without a family history and at her age, she had nothing to worry about. Six months later and one week after graduating with her international relations degree, Mooney sought a second opinion and was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer that had already metastasized to her liver. She was twenty-one years old and was given a 16 percent chance of celebrating her 30th birthday.
Since then, Mooney has undergone continual aggressive chemotherapy and a lumpectomy. During this time she began as a volunteer for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, initially stuffing envelopes to get out of the house and to date has raised millions for the cause. She is a speaker at colleges and universities across the U.S. and has been featured in Teen Vogue and on Lifetimetv.com. She serves on the Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s National Young Women’s Advisory Council a group created in part to focus on the Young Women’s Initiative, originated and driven by the Val Skinner Foundation and LIFE.
2009: Gabrielle Union
In 2007, one of television and film star Gabrielle Union’s closest girlfriends was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. In support of her friend, Union began actively fundraising for the cause and found a passion for helping make sure others battling the disease had access to health care, support groups, counseling and whatever they needed.
Aware of her passion, Susan G. Komen for the Cure invited Union to be an ambassador for the organization’s Circle of Promise program. A talented television and film actress, Union has garnered an impressive resume since her television debut in 1981. Her list of television shows includes roles on “City of Angels” and “Night Stalker,” recurring roles on shows such as “Sister, Sister” and “7th Heaven” and guest-starring roles on shows including “ER,” “Ugly Betty.” She was also seen in HBO’s award-winning “Something the Lord Made.” She most recently starred in the NBC drama “LIFE.”
2008: Jessica Queller
Queller, writer-producer on the hit series, Gossip Girl, recently authored “Pretty Is What Changes,” a book chronicling her decision to have a prophylactic double mastectomy after testing positive for a gene mutation known as the breast cancer gene, or BRCA.
Women with the mutation have an increased risk of developing breast cancer, as well as a strong chance of getting ovarian cancer, the disease that killed her mother.
In the book, Queller, a 34-year-old who has written for television shows, including Gilmore Girls, Felicity and One Tree Hill, shares her desire to have a family of her own and her beliefs about body image and sexuality, while also exploring the physical, emotional and philosophical consequences of her decision.
Queller lives in New York and Los Angeles.
2008: Judy Rankin
A year after beating her bout with breast cancer in 2006, Rankin, a World Golf Hall of Fame member, helped start Pink Links, a class designed to promote the healing process for breast cancer survivors through the game of golf.
Her experience with the disease emboldened her to reach out to breast cancer survivors needing help in recovery.
As an LPGA pro, Rankin was a fierce competitor, amassing, 26 wins, three Vare Trophies, two money titles and two Player of the Year awards.
When her playing days ended, Rankin embarked on a successful career as a golf broadcaster, which included being the first woman to work full-time on broadcasts of men's events.
Now 63, Rankin has become one of the most respected women in the golf community. She lives in Midland, Texas, with her husband, Yippy Rankin.
2008: Laura and Kelly Noonan
Laura Noonan, of Bay Village, Ohio, is a 23-year survivor of breast and ovarian cancer. Her strong will and determination has helped her prevail against three reoccurrences. In 1984 and 1985, the mother of two defeated bilateral breast cancer, and then overcame ovarian cancer in ’91 and again in ’02.
Throughout these bouts, the 58-year-old has found solace on the golf course. “It has always been about survival and in the early years so much of that had to do with staying alive to raise the girls since they were 2- and 3-years-old with the initial diagnosis,” said husband Ralph Noonan.
Laura’s most heart-wrenching battle with breast cancer, however, was not her own, but her then 25-year-old daughter’s.
Kelly Noonan, a former division-one collegiate golfer, was diagnosed and treated for the disease in 2005.
Genetic testing, which revealed that Laura had passed on the breast cancer gene, likely saved Kelly’s life, said Ralph, who nominated the two for the Hero award through Golf for Women magazine.
Now, 27, Kelly and husband Michael Murphy are expecting their first child in October.
2008: Jenny Sheppard
Jenny Sheppard was diagnosed with breast cancer at 37. This diagnosis came after a proactive mammogram (she had before the recommended age 40) through which her cancer went undetected. Knowing her family history and after finding a lump in her breast through a self-exam, she pushed through to have an ultrasound which revealed a tumor in one breast. Because of the diagnosis and her family history, she opted for a bilateral mastectomy as a precautionary measure, in addition to the chemo and radiation cancer treatment.
Realizing through her own experience that there were few existing support networks in Georgia, South Carolina and her general local area of and for younger women with breast cancer, Sheppard and two other Savannah women began a breast cancer support and awareness group targeting women in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Today, she counsels young women who are newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients. She is interested in helping the LIFE mission through work with the Young Survival Coalition.
Shepherd currently resides in Savannah with her husband, Sean, and her daughters, Riley and Anya.
2007: Diane Tropea Greene
Diane Tropea Greene is a breast cancer survivor and an active volunteer at the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program, located in Garden City, New York. She speaks extensively to women’s groups about a variety of breast cancer issues, including the subject of genetic breast cancer and genetic testing.
She has been featured in local and national media discussing her family history with breast cancer, including Family Circle magazine, Rosie magazine and New York Newsday. She has also been interviewed for television news stories on ABC-TV, WPIX-TV, News-12 Long Island and WLNY-LI Cable News.
Diane was born in The Bronx and grew up in Queens Village, New York. She now resides on Long Island with her husband and two teenage boys.
2007: Morgan Pressel
Morgan Pressel is a professional golfer who, when 12, became the youngest player ever to qualify for the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour. Her 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship title made her also the youngest-ever major champion winner on the LPGA Tour, before she was 19 years old. Today, she is ranked among the top golfers in the world.
But she has also suffered from loss. Morgan’s mother, Kathy Pressel lost her battle with breast cancer in September 2003. At that time, Morgan moved in with her grandparents.
Following this tragic loss, Morgan continued to push ahead in her career, coached by her grandfather. Today Morgan represents the courage of co-survivorship. And, her fellow LPGA players acknowledge that not only are they proud of her for her strength, but they all know her mother would be even
2007: Subha Barry
Subha Barry is Managing Director and head of Global Diversity and Inclusion for Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. In this role, she is responsible for managing and integrating existing and new diversity efforts across the corporation globally.
A three-time cancer survivor, she supports and coaches newly diagnosed patients with coping strategies and work/life balance. In 1997, Ms. Barry was the winner of the TWIN – Tribute to Women in Industry Award. In 2000, she won the Women’s Fund of New Jersey Award for Outstanding Achievement in Banking and Finance. In 2006, she was inducted into the YWCA-NYC’s Academy of Woman Achievers.
Ms. Barry joined Merrill Lynch in 1989 and spent 13 years in the US Private Client Group as a highly successful and best practice Financial Advisor and Branch Manager. In 2001, she created the firm’s Multicultural and Diversified Business Development group to help establish Merrill Lynch as the preeminent wealth management firm among diverse and multicultural markets. She headed the group until 2005 when she was appointed to her current role.
She serves on the Business Women’s Advisory Board of the Business Women’s Network, an Working Mother Media company that supports, informs, and provides networking opportunities for women’s businesses and professional organizations. She is a member of the Christian & Timbers Inclusion Practice Board of Advisors, a board of experts and practitioners that consults the executive search firm on diversity recruitment issues and mentoring best practices. She is a member of the Advisory Board for VOICE, Hyperion’s imprint for women and she serves on the Boards of The Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the Princeton HealthCare System Foundation. She has also served on the Board of Trustees at the Chapin School in Princeton, New Jersey.
She is an active mentor of women both within her community and at Merrill Lynch, where she is a member of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Council. Ms. Barry lives in New Jersey with her husband and 2 children.