The CURE® Ambassador program was created to better connect the CURE® audience with patients, survivors, caregivers, and others that they identify with and want to hear from.
Ambassadors share their experiences through written pieces, video blogs, participate in CURE® events, such as Educated Patient® Summits and Educated Patient® Webinars, and connect with individuals at every stage of the cancer experience.
Michelle Velez
At the age of 38, Michelle Velez, a Las Vegas news anchor and married mother of two, developed a rare form of cancer caused by her third pregnancy. The pregnancy, which was not viable, was diagnosed as an "invasive molar pregnancy." The condition occurs when invasive placental tissue multiplies and fills the uterus. In Michelle's case, the tissue developed into cancer and metastasized. She was diagnosed as stage 4 and immediately had to start an aggressive chemotherapy treatment.
Michelle underwent 16 weeks of chemotherapy and documented every moment on her social media platforms. Eight months after her diagnosis, she was declared cancer free. She never returned back to work, and now stays home to raise her two young children.
Michelle is very candid about her cancer journey, and uses social media to give the world a glimpse into the reality of life with cancer. Michelle says although she'll never fully understand why this happened to her, she believes sharing her journey and educating people about her very rare condition is her purpose for surviving.
Lorelei Colbert
Lorelei Colbert is an award-winning advocate, speaker and creator. At 28 years old, Lorelei was newly married and diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer shortly after. As she battled, she created the Chemo to Kindness℠ Challenge that inspired more than 1,700 acts of kindness and impacted more than 75 organizations worldwide. Now a survivor, her leadership work has been recognized by advocacy and industry groups as she continues to shed a light on breast cancer awareness in young women and the importance of advocating for yourself.
Rob Paulsen
Rob is the voice of Pinky from “Pinky and the Brain,” Raphael (and Donatello) from “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and Carl Wheezer from “Jimmy Neutron.” He has an Emmy, Annie and Peabody Award.
Hulu has started airing all new episodes of Speilberg’s “Animaniacs.” The show which was introduced to millenials 30 years ago will return with the original cast including Rob voicing Yakko, one of the Warner siblings who lives in the water tower on the Warner Bros. lot. The show has been picked up for a 3rd season.
Rob’s memoir Voice Lessons (released by Viva Editions, an imprint of Start Publishing), chronicles his journey with cancer. Ironically a man who uses his voice for work found himself with throat cancer (now recovered.)
Nina Luker
Nina Luker is a 25-year-old stage 4 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma survivor. Luker currently leads Partnerships at a digital tech platform called Shuttlerock.
She discovered her passion to serve others during her cancer diagnosis and became a board-certified health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Luker is dedicated to helping inspire others to move through tragedy with a glass half full mentality.