Move Mountains for Ann Cancer Fund

She’s not just an awesome coworker at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (HDFCCC).  Not just a DJ and avid collector of vinyl. Nor is she only a jewelry-maker, writer, part-time thespian, activist, policy wonk, and talented cook. She’s also our wonderful friend Ann, and she needs our help.

 It started with stage one colon cancer a few years ago. Until recently, subsequent checkups came up clean, and for a while all was serene.

 Then on January 3rd, just after the holidays, Ann was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, which had already metastasized to her brain, liver, lung, and bone. What at first had been a healthy prognosis quickly escalated into a life-changing situation, requiring urgent medical attention.
 
So far Ann has received radiation treatment and soon she’ll be starting chemo. Despite her unwavering upbeat attitude (and side-splitting humor!), the day to day can be rigorous: Frequent trips to the infusion center, being hooked up to an IV for some 6 to 8 hours a day, and difficulty doing things we so often take for granted (going to the store, laundry, making meals).
 

Any funds raised will be used to cover Ann’s medical fees, cost of living, transportation expenses, plus any other treatments needed to fight this.

 



Ann has always been in the business of helping others.

 After graduating from UC Santa Cruz (Go Slugs!), she interned and did field work for a non-profit patient and advocacy bone marrow disease organization, in Annapolis, MD. From there, it was on to University of San Francisco, where she got her Masters in Public Health.  

Ann is a member of the Investigational Trials Resource (ITR), an organizational unit in the UCSF HDFCCC that aims to centralize and streamline clinical research infrastructure and increase patient accrual. Her work has helped numerous patients receive updated information on new risks related to their study treatment.  

 She's smart, quirky, talented, a devourer of literature (the classics and Oprah’s book club, so what?), and an all-around awesome, warm human being. Given her knowledge and talent in a wide array of areas, you might even call her a Renaissance woman. Not only that, she’s a amazing friend (can’t stress that enough), sister, and daughter.

 


When she gets better (thanks to you!), Ann plans on hitting up more national parks across the US as well as traveling to Greece and Africa. Not to mention, perfecting her already renowned cheese appetizer and steak & artichoke entrée while taking care of her adorable new puppy, Phoebe.


Thank you for your support.

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