cancer

It’s a Family Affair: How Advocacy Begins at Home for Cervivor Community Members

Cervical cancer advocacy often starts with a personal story—but it doesn’t end there. For many in the Cervivor community, it begins at home, with children watching, learning, and eventually joining the mission to end cervical cancer.

For Anne Zajic, a Stage 1B2 cervical cancer survivor and mom of three, advocacy has become a true family affair. Diagnosed in 2016 when her daughters were still very young, Anne leaned into the Cervivor community for strength and purpose. Today, she’s a Cervivor Ambassador, and her daughters—Clara, 11, and twins Julia and Katie, 9—are right beside her as Junior Ambassadors.

A family’s love for baking inspired their summer-long fundraiser to benefit Cervivor.

“They’ve grown up with advocacy as part of their lives,” says Anne, whose efforts include volunteering with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and helping secure gubernatorial proclamations in Kansas recognizing both HPV Awareness Day and Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. “They understand why we talk about HPV, screenings, and prevention—they’ve seen what this disease can do.”

Why It Matters

Family involvement in health education and advocacy can make a measurable impact.

According to the Community Preventive Services Task Force, family-based interventions can increase preventive screening rates by up to 35%. And when parents talk openly about HPV and cancer prevention, their children are significantly more likely to be vaccinated.

These conversations are critical—especially when so many still don’t realize cervical cancer is largely preventable. In 2024, more than 13,800 women in the U.S. were expected to be diagnosed with the disease, often without knowing the role HPV plays in causing it, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), respectively.

“We can’t keep letting people face this in silence,” says Anne. “The more families talk about it, the more lives we can save.”

Empowering the Next Generation

This summer, Anne and her daughters are turning cupcakes and cookies into action with a fundraiser benefiting Cervivor. Inspired by Julia’s idea to spend more time together while giving back, the family is popping up at local events, sharing their story—and plenty of sweet treats.

“Julia said, ‘Why don’t we do a bake sale?’ That was all I needed to hear,” Anne recalls with a laugh. “Baking has always been something we love doing together. Now, it’s become a way to raise awareness.”

Alongside the goodies, the girls will also be selling handmade jewelry crafted with love and purpose. “Every cookie, every cupcake, and every earring is a step toward supporting Cervivor’s mission to end cervical cancer,” says Anne.

For Cervivor Founder and Chief Visionary Tamika Felder, advocacy has long been a way of life—even before it became personal after surviving cervical cancer in her twenties. Raised in a family rooted in public service, she spent her childhood volunteering for causes and through her church. 

Cervivor founder Tamika (far left), her son, and Cervivor community members gathered in Cleveland last year to raise awareness. Kadiana, whose daughter also helped out, is third from left.

Now, her son Chayton often joins her at Cervivor events, learning the power of speaking up and giving back. At last year’s Communities of Color outreach effort in Cleveland, they were joined by one of her goddaughters, Ming, and Cervivor Ambassador Kadiana Vegee’s daughter, Aurianna—showcasing how the next generation is stepping into advocacy alongside their mothers and mentors.

“Children aren’t just watching us—they’re learning from us,” says Tamika, recalling how her goddaughter Kennedy, then in elementary school and now a college student, once held a Giving Tuesday bake sale to support Cervivor. “When a child sees you stand up for something that matters, it stays with them. That’s how movements grow—across generations.”

Tamika’s goddaughter, Kennedy, hosts a bake sale in 2019, donating a percentage of proceeds to Cervivor, Inc. to help women with cervical cancer.

One of Cervivor’s bright lights, Becky Wallace, tragically passed away in 2021—but her legacy continues to shine. In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, her tween daughters organized a heartfelt neighborhood bike-a-thon, raising over $2,000 in support of Cervivor. Their inspiring efforts, captured in this moving video, remind us that it’s never too early to stand up for a cause you believe in—especially when it’s your mom’s life on the line. (Warning: You might need tissues.)

Get Your Family Involved 

Whether it’s hosting a bake sale or a bike-a-thon, traveling to awareness events, or simply having honest conversations around the dinner table, Cervivors are teaching their children that advocacy is a shared responsibility—and a powerful gift.

“This isn’t just my story anymore,” says Anne. “It’s my daughters’ story, too. Our fundraiser is just one example of what advocacy can look like. You don’t have to start big—just start somewhere. Whether it’s baking cookies, creating art, or hosting a virtual event, your passion can fuel change.”

Support Cervivor’s Mission!

Want to get your family involved in cervical cancer advocacy? Have a fundraising idea? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] and let’s turn your creativity into support for survivors.

And don’t forget to check out Tell 20, Give 20—Cervivor’s awareness and fundraising campaign celebrating 20 years of impact. We are grateful for every dollar donated that helps us get closer to ending cervical cancer. 

Preventing HPV-Related Cancers: Cervivor’s Urgent Call for Action This Women’s Health Month

At Cervivor, Inc., every month is Women’s Health Month. But this May, we’re taking the opportunity to spotlight a critical public health issue that disproportionately impacts women: HPV-related cancers. 

HPV, or human papillomavirus, is an extremely common virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 85% of people will be exposed to the virus at some point in their lives. While many HPV strains are essentially harmless, high-risk strains are responsible for more than 37,000 new cancer cases each year in the U.S., including about 21,800 cases in women and 16,000 in men. 

These cancers include vaginal, vulvar, anal, oropharyngeal, penile, and cervical cancer—what Cervivor is dedicated to eliminating. Cervical cancer remains the most common HPV-related cancer in women, with more than 11,000 new cases diagnosed annually.

The good news? Nearly all HPV-related cancers are preventable with tools like vaccination, regular checkups, and early treatment. Just last month, National Cancer Institute researchers reported “phenomenal” new data that a single dose of the HPV vaccine is just as effective as the two doses currently recommended for people aged 9 to 25!

This recent CDC infographic illustrates how effective the HPV vaccine can be in preventing over 90% of related cancers including cervical cancer.

“Knowledge is power—but it’s only the start,” says Tamika Felder, Cervivor’s Founder and Chief Visionary. “Preventable cancers like cervical cancer are on the rise because of complacency, stigma, and misinformation. Up-to-date cervical screenings have dropped over the past two decades, and HPV vaccine uptake was ‘flat’ from 2021 to 2023,” she says, citing an alarming recent report from the American Cancer Society. “The time to prevent suffering—and save lives from cervical and other HPV-related cancers—is now.”

The National HPV Conference: A Gathering of the Minds

Fortunately, Tamika and Cervivor aren’t the only ones prioritizing women’s health and tackling the ongoing challenges of HPV-related diseases. Over 400 attendees gathered with the same mission at the recent National HPV Conference in Indianapolis from April 15 to 17, 2025. Bringing together leading experts, healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and survivors, the conference aimed to facilitate networking, collaboration, and resource sharing like “never done before” in the U.S. 

The National HPV Conference unites leaders toward their shared mission.

Representing Cervivor, Tamika took part in a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Rachel Katzenellenbogen and included other HPV cancer and disease survivors, including recurrent respiratory papillomatosis survivor, Kim McClellan, anal cancer survivor Lillian Kreppel and tonsil cancer survivor Jason Mendelsohn, that underscored the human impact of HPV-related cancers. Later, she and Community Engagement Liaison, Morgan Newman, MSW—a metastatic and recurrent cervical cancer survivor—co-presented with leading global expert and author Dr. Linda Eckert in a session titled “Beyond the Data,” highlighting the power of personal narratives in advocacy.

Cervivor’s founder, Tamika, shared her experience and expertise alongside other HPV cancer survivors, emphasizing the importance of the patient voice.

A few other program highlights from the National HPV Conference: 

  • Keynote Addresses: Dr. Susan Vadaparampil, Associate Center Director of Community Outreach, Engagement, and Equity at Moffitt Cancer Center, delivered a keynote about the importance of advocacy and gave a special shoutout to the Cervivor community. Dr. Michelle Fiscus, Chief Medical Officer for the Association of Immunization Managers and Co-Chair of the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable, also gave a dynamic presentation on the current state of vaccination.
  • Policy and Advocacy Discussions: Dr. Heather Brandt, Director of the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program, alongside Martha Nolan, Senior Policy Advisor at HealthyWomen, highlighted the critical role of legislative action and community engagement in HPV prevention efforts.
  • Storytelling Session: Sally Perkins, a professional storyteller and cancer survivor, demonstrated the transformative power of storytelling in advocacy.

What’s Next: Challenges and Opportunities

“HPV-related cancers are still a greater threat in the developing world, but it’s alarming that preventable cancers are increasing here in the U.S.—especially as funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other public and private sources shrinks,” shares Morgan. 

Cervivor Morgan Newman at National HPV Conference
Cervivor’s Community Engagement Liaison Morgan explained how personal narratives can change minds.

Fresh from the National HPV Conference, Morgan outlines several pressing challenges facing the HPV prevention movement:

Vaccine Hesitancy: Despite strong scientific evidence that the HPV vaccine is both safe and effective—and promising news that a single dose may be enough in the future—misinformation and mistrust persist. Disinformation campaigns and cultural stigmas around vaccines continue to suppress vaccination rates, particularly in vulnerable communities. 

Policy and Funding: Sustained progress in HPV prevention relies heavily on legislative support and adequate funding. Cuts to public health budgets and shifting policy priorities threaten access to the HPV vaccine, routine screenings, and treatment services—especially in underserved areas. 

Healthcare Access: Longstanding disparities in healthcare access, insurance coverage, and provider availability mean that too many people—especially in rural, low-income, and marginalized communities—still face barriers to prevention and early detection. Expanding equitable access to care remains a critical need. 

Cervivor’s Response: Advocacy in Action

These challenges fuel our ongoing commitment to protect every person with a cervix from HPV-related cancers. Here’s how Cervivor is responding:

Cervivor School 2024 Graduates and Team Cervivor
Cervivor’s commitment to HPV prevention advocacy includes organizing the annual Cervivor School, where patients and survivors are equipped with the knowledge and tools to advocate for better women’s health care. Shown here is the graduating class of the 2024 school.
  • Enhanced Education Campaigns: Cervivor is tackling vaccine hesitancy through culturally relevant messaging and resources via initiatives such as the Cervical Cancer Summit and Cervivor School, which aims to equip participants with the knowledge and confidence to advocate for HPV prevention within their communities.
  • Empowering Survivors: Through our growing collection of Cervivor Stories, we amplify the lived experiences of patients and survivors to raise awareness, break stigma, and drive meaningful change.
  • Advocacy and Policy Engagement: Members of Cervivor’s team and community proudly contribute to national coalitions including the National HPV Roundtable, National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer, HealthyWomen HPV Coalition, HPV Cancers Alliance, and the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program, helping shape policies that support prevention, access, and care.
  • Addressing Disparities: Through grassroots, community-led conversations like DEI MeetUps, Black Cervix Chat, Cervivor Español, and international groups like Cervivor Africa and Cervivor Caribbean, we’re ensuring underrepresented voices are heard. (Visit our Events to see if there is a meetup or group that you’d like to join.) We also serve on advisory boards and research committees, championing patient advocacy in clinical trials, screening, and vaccination efforts. 

This Women’s Health Month, we urge our Cervivor community and its allies to recommit to action. Preventable HPV-related cancers shouldn’t still be claiming lives. While cancer doesn’t discriminate, the systems surrounding it often do. It’s time to break down the barriers that stand in the way of prevention, early detection, and treatment.

If you believe in Cervivor’s mission to end cervical cancer and ensure that no one has to face it alone, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution today. Your support helps us continue our lifesaving work.