The mission of the HERA Women's Cancer Foundation is to eliminate ovarian cancer by promoting Health, Empowerment, Research, and Awareness. Our Climb4Life events encourage women to become active and take charge of their health. Turn your passion into action and join us at a Climb4Life near you.
"The HERA "Outside the Box" grant program has made a profound impact by attracting our best and brightest postdoctoral fellows to study ovarian cancer, and funded their most innovative and exciting new approaches to combat this terrible disease. Receipt of an "OSB" award propels these outstanding young scientists to independently follow their potentially high reward ideas and open up new approaches to the prevention, detection or treatment of ovarian cancer. It is through the training and support of such wonderful young scientists that important breakthroughs are made," by Dr. Richard Roden, Professor, Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University
"Thanks to HERA's community grants funds, we have been able to offer critically needed information to women living with ovarian cancer. One hundred different women have participated in our toll-free educational teleconferences, helping them gain knowledge and learn that they're not alone," by Barbara Cervoni, LMSW, ACSW, Director of Services and Communication, Support Connection, Inc.
"As a climber, HERA has always inspired me. The organization has this amazing ability to bring people together at its CLimb4Life events and harvest a sense of empowerment through the common love of climbing. It's a vehicle to represent what the human spirit can overcome," by Whitney Boland, pro climber and freelance writer
The mission of the HERA Women's Cancer Foundation is to eliminate ovarian cancer by promoting Health, Empowerment, Research, and Awareness.
The HERA Women's Cancer Foundation was established in 2002 by Ms. Sean Patrick of Carbondale, CO. After her diagnosis, she travelled nationwide to seek the best care, latest treatments and most progressive ovarian cancer research. It was her wish to share her knowledge and experience to improve the lives of other women afflicted with this disease. Her legacy reaches far beyond those impacted by ovarian cancer, validated by the thousands of women who have been touched by her compassion, selfless commitment and endless dedication to change.
In 1990 this avid skier, mountain biker and hiker, learned to rock climb-a sport that encompasses all that Sean loved in life, and which she used as a metaphor to inspire us to go beyond our comfort zone, push ourselves and reset the boundaries. Rock climbing encompasses problem solving, taking calculated risks and physical and mental challenges. Sean was fond of saying, "When you're out there on a ledge and there's a storm rolling in, you can't just cut the line. You have to keep on going and fighting." She saw the correlation between the skills needed for rock climbing (confidence, refined decision making and a sharp eye for assessing a situation quickly) and the skills needed for coping with health issues.
Seven years after clipping her first carabiner, at age 46, Sean reached an advanced level in climbing, 5.12a. At the same time, she faced the greatest test of her life: a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. During her recovery from surgery she decided to use her passion for the outdoors and resolve the lack of awareness, information, and funding for ovarian cancer by creating the HERA Women's Cancer Foundation, forming Partners in Action and launching the popular HERA Climb4Life three-city fundraising event series.
Sitting on a half-dozen boards working on cancer-related issues, Sean met hundreds of women suffering from ovarian cancer and taught herself everything she could about the disease. "I had a lot of time to think," she said. "I became interested in what were the political, social and funding obstacles to coming up with better testing for the disease and more effective treatments - you know, those middle of the night rants that take place in a hospital room. I decided we needed to frame the dialogue as a political and social problem versus a healthmedical problem. I wanted to understand what were the obstacles to a timely access and quality care. I guess part of the reason I got involved was a way of taking back control of my life."
In the whirlwind that became her life as an advocate for women, Sean passed on a valuable lesson she learned: "We all have the power within us to change the world in a positive way. It just takes one idea, one individual, one scientist, one company or one community to make a difference in the world. That's the power of one."
On January 20th, 2009, our dear friend, partner, sister and mentor Sean Patrick succumbed to ovarian cancer after a twelve year battle. She fought the disease personally, as well as for all women. Today, the HERA Women's Cancer Foundation remains firmly committed to fulfilling Sean's legacy and continuing her vision.
Organization name
HERA Women's Cancer Foundation
other names
HERA Foundation, HERA Women's Cancer Foundation
2002
Tax id (EIN)
71-0879772
Category
Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
P.O. Box 20791Boulder County, CO, US