Health Equity

Meet Cervivor’s Newest Patient Advocacy Award Winners

At the recent Cervivor School 2024 – celebrating its 10th year as a one-of-a-kind patient advocate training program – the following five Cervivor community members were honored with patient advocacy awards, recognizing their leadership and commitment to the urgent cause to end cervical cancer.

Read on to hear what they had to say about receiving these unique patient advocacy awards — some of which honor the legacy of Cervivor community members who are no longer with us — and why our Founder and Chief Visionary Tamika Felder believes they are so deserving.

Cervivor Champion Award – Lindsay Gullatte-Lee


Why She Won: “Lindsay checks all the boxes of a Cervivor Champion,” says Tamika about this coveted patient advocacy award. “She’s great at sharing the patient experience, fundraising, and much more. She understands the importance of closing health inequalities and has used her survivorship to help make that happen.”

What She Says: “The reason I do this is so no one else suffers this disease alone. Everyone should have the facts about cervical cancer prevention and it’s important that our voices as patients are heard. I was completely shocked to win! I felt seen, heard, supported, and loved. I’m still healing but forever grateful to the Cervivor community for all its support. I found my people, and I’m just happy to give back a little of everything they’ve given me.”

Brittany Wagner Social Media Advocacy Award – Christy Basa Chambers


Why She Won: “Christy is so deserving of this award because she shows up and shares her vulnerability – the good, the not-so-good, and everything in between,” says Tamika about Christy, whose personal hashtag is #choosinghopedaily. “More importantly, she provides crucial information to encourage people to get screened and vaccinated, and we know that visibility is key to our cause. Christy truly understands what community means and spreads a message of hope across all social media platforms and in person.” 

What She Says: “When I was first diagnosed, I felt very alone. It would have been easy to lose hope, but life with and after Stage 4 cancer is possible! I have made it my mission to foster hope and joy in others who are struggling. If my online content can encourage someone to visit the Cervivor website, get vaccinated, schedule a screening, or learn more about HPV and cervical cancer, then I know I’ve made an impact.”

Erica Frazier Stum Living Life with Cancer Award – Gwendolyn “Gwen” Jackson


Why She Won: “No one is more deserving than Gwen, who is helping others while in the midst of fighting for her life,” says Tamika about this award named after an inspiring late member of the Cervivor community and honors a particularly passionate patient advocate who is thriving despite battling cancer.

What She Says: “This award means so much to me because of Erica Frazier Strum’s legacy,” says Gwen, who was unable to walk up to receive the patient advocacy award due to pain from her treatment, prompting a standing ovation from the Cervivor School attendees. “It inspires me to continue striving for excellence and contributing to the cause in her memory. I believe that individuals never pass if their names are still spoken in rooms. I will make sure her name is spoken in every room I enter.”

Cervivor Spark Award – Tiera Wade


Why She Won: “Tiera has shown incredible dedication and passion toward Cervivor’s mission to end cervical cancer,” affirms Tamika about this motivated and motivational patient advocate “Her commitment shines through in everything she does: from volunteering her time to support our organization, to enthusiastically sharing vital information about cervical cancer within her community.”

What She Says: “To know that cervical cancer is preventable with proper screening drives me to empower others to prioritize their health – because they are worth it. This award was the God-sent confirmation that there is still work to do,” says Tiera of the honor. “My spark was reignited!”

Cervivor Rising Star Award – Claudia Pérez-Favela


Why She Won: “Claudia is all in, and she’s already doing incredible work – not only within the Hispanic community but also in the broader effort to end cervical cancer,” says Tamika. “If this is what she’s achieving right out of the gate, I can’t wait to see what she does next.”

What She Says: “The stigma surrounding gynecological cancers in the Latinx community drives my advocacy. It’s crucial because cervical cancer and HPV are preventable, and treatment is much more effective when caught early.”

Thank you to these dedicated advocates for amplifying the patient voice in everything they do, inspiring hope, resilience, and action in our collective mission to end cervical cancer. They embody the spirit of the Cervivor community and demonstrate the importance and power of sharing the stories of those affected by this disease.

Join the Movement

If you’re inspired by these patient advocate award winners work, consider becoming an advocate yourself. Here are ways to get involved:

  • Share Your Story: On the Cervivor website, write a blog post, or post on social media about your experience with cervical cancer and tag Cervivor!
  • Volunteer: Help organize events, participate in awareness campaigns, or support local initiatives.
  • Fundraise: Support our non-profit’s mission of empowerment, education, advocacy, and support.
  • Join the conversation on social media using #Cervivor and #EndCervicalCancer.

Together, we can create a future where cervical cancer is no longer a threat, and every patient has access to the care and support they deserve. Thank you again to Lindsay, Christy, Gwen, Tiera, and Claudia for shining bright as pillars of strength in the mission to end cervical cancer.

The Ladies in the White Shirts

Cervivor is committed to making a difference by working to close disparity gaps that continue to plague Communities of Color. This commitment led Cervivor’s Founder and Chief Visionary, Tamika Felder, and Cervivor’s Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer, Kimberly Williams to unite community members this past weekend from around the world—Honduras, St. Lucia, and U.S. states like Texas, Maryland, California, Alabama, New York, North Carolina, Iowa, and more—to Cleveland, Ohio, for the Cervical Cancer Patient Advocacy Retreat for Communities of Color. This retreat wasn’t just a local event; it was a global movement. We had community members participating via Zoom from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Africa, emphasizing our commitment to advocating for change worldwide.

Empowering Knowledge
Renowned experts from the Cleveland Clinic and Langston Hughes shared their insights on cervical cancer prevention, treatment, and advocacy. Attendees gained a deeper understanding of the importance of:

  • Routine screenings and HPV vaccination.
  • The need for cultural competency in healthcare.
  • Ways for them to engage in community outreach and education.

After an expert-led panel, Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer, Kimberly Williams recapped the powerful message, “An educated patient takes action.”

(From Left to Right: Dr. Goje, Dr. Beffa, Dr. Amarnath, Dr. Sutherland of the Cleveland Clinic, and Kimberly Williams, Chief DEI Officer, Cervivor, Inc.).
(Ms. Chantel Wilcox of Langston Hughes shared the mission-driven work in the community).

Participants also had the opportunity to discuss self-collection cervical cancer screening and participated in discussions that answered questions about self-collection and its importance in eliminating cervical cancer. This discussion aided the advocates in understanding and promoting self-collection as a viable option for early detection when they return to their communities.

A special session with Dr. Leeya Pinder, who practices both in the United States and Africa, provided a global perspective on the issue of access (not just screening and treatment, but also clinical trials). Dr. Pinder explained the dire need for advocacy to end the disease, highlighting that many individuals with a cervix in these countries lack access to essential screening materials, leading to detrimental results. Her insights allowed participants to see the full circle of need in cervical cancer prevention and treatment.

(Cassie Ricci, Roche Diagnostics, discusses the latest for self-collection).
(Dr. Leeya Pinder pays acknowledgment to Mrs. Henrietta Lacks during an impactful session).

Turning Knowledge into Action
On Saturday, Cervivor launched Cervivor Cares, which is our initiative to raise awareness about cervical cancer in communities through education, volunteering, and active presence. We engaged in community outreach, raised funds, and supported the mission to eliminate cervical cancer by providing essential resources and promoting access to necessary screening and treatment for all. 

What better way to launch Cervivor Cares, than a Cervivor in Action day after a full day of classroom training? That’s right, our retreat participants increased their advocacy footprint by putting their knowledge into action. They volunteered their time at a clinic hosted by Medworks and the Cleveland Clinic that provided preventative screenings to the underserved community of Cleveland, Ohio. 

(Cervivor Español and Latinx Attendees).
(Dr. Mary Sia Uy-Kroh, MedWorks Board Member, sharing how Cervivor was making a world of impact).

It was not only an opportunity for preventive screenings, it was an opportunity for our participants to bring education and empowerment to all those who attended and were touched by our volunteers. Without hesitation, our retreat participants assisted by sharing their stories and expressing the importance of our mission. Our Cervivor Español, attendees translated to and for patients in every facet including the exam room so patients understood the physician’s questions and requests. This group put the information they learned into action immediately. Our participants met people where they were, in their daily routines —urging them to schedule their cervical cancer screenings, attend follow-ups, and the importance of HPV vaccination. 

As they shared their stories and stressed the importance of cervical cancer screenings and HPV Vaccination, the clinic was buzzing with excitement. Patients and staff alike began referring to them as “The Ladies in the White Shirts,” urging others, “You need to go talk to the ladies in the white shirts.”  These Cervivors were educating patients before they even walked through the door, helping them understand that regardless of their past, getting screened and following up on any abnormalities now is crucial. The retreat participants’ presence underscored the importance of the Cervivor mission and served as a reminder that their story mattered, and was already making a difference.

Embracing the Spirit of the Ladies in the White Shirts
As we reflect on this transformative event, we celebrate the spirit of “The Ladies in the White Shirts”—the Cervivor community. Each of you embodies this spirit by wearing your shirt, sharing your story, and advocating for screening. Your dedication makes you a vital part of the movement to end cervical cancer. In the words of Gwendolyn Jackson, “You have prepared me to go out into my community.” If you don’t feel prepared, we have programs available for you!

Lindsay Gullatte-Lee (Mentor) and Gwendolyn Jackson (Attendee) in their white Cervivor Cares tees.
(A snapshot of programming Cervivor offers).

We encourage everyone to grab your Cervivor Spark, use the hashtags #Screen4Me and #Cervivor, and continue advocating for cervical cancer screenings. By sharing your story and spreading awareness, you become a powerful advocate, helping others access the screenings they need and contributing to a future free from cervical cancer. Together, as a community working to eradicate cervical cancer, let’s continue to make our voices heard, drive change, and support each other in this crucial mission.

Cervivor would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to our sponsors, including Pfizer, Genmab, Roche, and The Marchetta Family (Vince, Amanda, & William in honor of their late wife and mother, Betsy), as well as our in-kind donors, La Roche-Posay, Kafela, Lepley & Co., and Kesh the Creative, for their generous support and contributions to our mission.