board of directors

Jen is privileged to join the DC  Candlelighters’ embrace families in the DC Metro area. Her compassion  and respect for walking alongside the community comes from a personal  journey with her daughter, Monique, and husband, Rick, as they were  diagnosed in 2008. Receiving the support of so many organizations and  individuals will forever be held close to her heart. From then to  now, she is set on giving back and embracing all of you. Whether it is  calling out Bingo numbers on family night or planning events or speaking  on behalf of support for DC Candlelighters events, Jen is committed to  our cause.

Michelle’s son  Alex was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma in 2000. He lost his battle  with cancer in 2002 after a long fight to survive. If it had not been  for organizations like DC Candlelighters to assist her family through  the journey, she doesn’t know how her family would have survived. It is  Michelle’s pleasure to serve on the board of this organization and  assist other children and their families as they navigate their way  through the treatment of this horrible disease.

Madonna first became aware of the  work of DC Candlelighters when her son, who was 3 1/2 at the time, was  battling Stage IV Rhabdomyosarcoma. DC Candlelighters provided support  for Madonna and her family through encouragement, visits and a surprise  Christmas in July for her son and his brother. DC Candlelighters touched  Madonna and her families’ hearts and she feels truly blessed to be able  to work with this group.

Laura,  known to most of her medical colleagues as LTM, is passionate about the  DC Candlelighters organization because of the services provided to  families with children who are diagnosed with cancer. One of her mottos  is “Go Big or Go Home”, and “In A World Where You Can Be Anything—Be Kind”.  Her goals are to provide substantial financial, emotional and  educational support to families through the DC Candlelighters programs.  You might ask why Laura is so passionate about this specific  organization. When you hear those four words “Your child has cancer” it  takes your breath away, the biggest kick you will ever feel in your  life, you feel like you are living a nightmare. Once the shock is over  you must fight for remission, a cure, survival of your child while still  trying to have some sense of normalcy. There is nothing normal about  Cancer! DC Candlelighters is the organization that will help you find  that balance.

Laura remembers an Angel that  was with her and her family during her child’s 11 year fight; that  Angel’s name was Margy Jost. She was an advocate of DC Candlelighters.  Margy was Laura’s friend, her confidant, her Angel on earth. Laura  aspires to be like Margy. Please walk with Laura to provide support for  these children and their families and honor Margy’s Memory.

Connie is a former licensed clinical social worker and oncology counselor who retired from Life with Cancer and the Inova Health System in June 2016 after 17 years of  service in pediatric oncology.  She is happy and honored to continue her long collaboration with DC Candlelighter’s in support of families now as a volunteer.

Sheri is a founding member of DC Candlelighters.  Her son was diagnosed at age 2 with T-cell Leukemia in 1998 and is a long-term survivor in his twenties now.  Sheri is honored to be a part of this incredible organization and especially enjoys the  interaction with families at various events throughout the year. In her spare time you’ll catch her at the Kennedy Center or Arena Stage taking  in a play or musical.

Andrea first became aware of the  DC Candlelighters in 2018, when her son Andriko was diagnosed with  embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Andriko lost his battle six days before his sixteenth birthday, in 2020. It was his legacy wish that the DC Candlelighters continue to help others, as they helped him. For this reason, Andrea chose to dedicate her time to the DC Candlelighters. She is the author of Blue-Celled Boy and Semper Polaris, which chronicle the experiences of brothers coping with cancer.

Pat is very aware of the financial  and emotional upheaval that families experience with any type of cancer  diagnosis.  Pat lost her husband and a granddaughter to cancer and is a  cancer survivor herself.

Sharon is honored to join DC  Candlelighters as a board member having received support from this organization when her daughter was diagnosed with cancer at age 9 in  2008 and subsequent relapse in 2009.  Both Sharon and her daughter are  survivors of Hodgkins Lymphoma.  Sharon, her husband, and daughter  volunteer with various pediatric cancer groups to help other families.

Amy’s son Reed was diagnosed with  large B cell diffuse Lymphoma in July of 2012. He has been in remission  for almost 5 years. She got to know this wonderful group when her son  was in the hospital and knew she had to get involved. She is active in  raising awareness and funds for various childhood cancer organizations.

Asia first heard of DC  Candlelighters when Meg, the President of DC Candlelighters, came to the  hospital room where her son was receiving treatment for Leukemia. For  Asia, a mother of a freshly diagnosed 2 year-old, to meet someone who  went through what she was going through, was very powerful. Asia  remembers when Meg told her she was a cancer mom. Meg shared some  success stories of children who had similar diagnosis’ to her son’s, and  gave her a sense of hope. Up to this point she didn’t know anyone who  shared a similar experience. This visit started a new chapter for Asia  and her family, through DC Candlelighters they have met other cancer  families and have attended many of the fun events that the foundation  organizes. Asia joined DC Candlelighters in hopes that she can give the  same sense of joy and normalcy her family experienced years ago to  someone else.

Rachel’s daughter Lucia was  diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia when she was only 4  years-old on January 1, 2018. The Smith family received a lot of support  from DC Candlighters during and after Lucia’s cancer treatment. Rachel  joined the board because she is very grateful for the organization and  would like to give back to the Childhood cancer community. Lucia is  doing well and the family continuously supports fundraisers that can  help find a cure for cancer.