Motherhood

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. 

My Story as a Traditional Asian Daughter

Both my parents immigrated from Thailand at a young age; met, fell in love, and had me. My grandmother and aunt moved from Thailand to Southern California, a completely foreign land, to help raise me while my parents strived to obtain their American Dream. Even though I was an American kid who listened to News Kids on the Block on the radio, I was still a traditional Asian daughter removing my shoes before entering my home and eating delicious home-cooked Chinese meals. Not only was I physically raised in the Asian culture, but I also absorbed all the traditional Asian characteristics as well.

I was taught to follow strict directions, strive for perfection, and above all conceal my emotions. When you are fortunate enough to be born with the “crying mole”, a beauty mark beneath my right eye, you are taught always to withhold your emotions and tears.  No matter how large the cut, or how much disappointment I felt for failing a test I was taught not to display any emotion. I know this might sound like a harsh way to raise a child, but crying and showing emotion was a sign of weakness in my family. My family wanted me to grow up to be a strong, independent woman while honoring my heritage and culture. 

My strength was first tested when I was diagnosed with HPV at 18. I was a confused hormonal teenager and couldn’t comprehend what was happening. My world was turned upside down and the worse part was I was alone. I couldn’t tell my parents for fear that I would disappoint them. I couldn’t call my friends because I didn’t know what to say. I sat in my truck alone, with the phone in my hand, listening to the dial tone and suddenly tears came gushing out. But somehow, the memory of when I fell off my bike and the sound of my aunt’s voice telling me, “You can choose to sit here and cry or you can clean yourself off and do something about it.” I chose to do something. I quickly started to research HPV at the university library. I needed to understand what was IN me, how did I get it and what could I do about it. I was shocked to learn what my doctor told me was a “minor instance” of HPV could be linked to cervical cancer. I immediately called my doctor and started the process of advocating for myself. I called and called until I got a second opinion from another OBGYN who confirmed that I had cervical dysplasia (CIN III). 

Life seemed to continue for me. I fell in love, graduated with a degree in English Literature, and got in engaged. A few weeks before walking down the aisle I received a call from my OBGYN that tested my strength yet again. My stubborn HPV decided to come back to life and I was diagnosed with 1A1 cervical cancer. In her calming voice, she said “You’re going to be ok. You did everything right, and we caught this very early.” I cried and through my tears explained that I was getting married in a few weeks. I remember the long pause in her voice as she took a deep breath and said “This is not going to take away your happiness, you go walk down that aisle and get married. Go on your honeymoon, and when you get back, we’re going to take care of you. Don’t let this stop you from living your life.” I got off the phone and cried as my fiancé held me until I fell asleep. I followed my doctor’s orders, hid the pain and fears, and got married on August 19th, 2006. And she was right, it was one of the happiest days of my life. 

I truly thought that I overcame the biggest obstacle in my life, surviving cancer, but I was wrong. My husband and I tried for years to have a child. We suffered miscarriages after miscarriages and failed infertility treatments. It was painful every time we got a pregnancy announcement from friends and family. I remember hiding my pain as I congratulated all my friends when I held their newborn children. I wanted a family of my own, but because of the various surgical procedures due to the HPV and cervical cancer, it was difficult. Finally, after years of trying we found out that we were pregnant. I was overjoyed! I knew from the start that even though I got pregnant carrying my baby to full-term was the ultimate battle.

At the start of the second trimester, my cervix (which was nearly gone) was “shrinking” and I was rushed into surgery to insert a cerclage to help keep my cervix closed. I was terrified. I could lose the baby I had wanted for so long. After the surgery, I was placed on modified bed rest, which consisted of coming downstairs once a day, only getting up to go to the bathroom and get food, but mainly off my feet. I told the doctor I would do whatever it took to keep my baby safe. I was hopeful that by restricting my movement for the second trimester I would be rewarded with the freedom in the third trimester.

Unfortunately, that was not the case. At the start of the third trimester, I was placed on full bed rest, only allowed to get up to go to the bathroom and shower once a day, and back to laying down on the bed. For two months I laid on my bed, holding back all the emotions I was feeling, in fear that I would lose the only strength I had left to keep my daughter safe. Finally, at the 30th week, the doctors felt that it was safe to remove the cerclage and release me from bed rest. I was FREE! I could finally see and feel my toes, I could feel the sunlight on my face and see the world again. But the best news, my daughter was safe. My daughter, Samantha Reagan Paguio was born on January 15th, 2013 in style, three days after her due date. 

I know my upbringing to some, might seem cold, restrictive, and harsh, but I am thankful for the matriarchs in my family: my mom, my Ama (grandmother), and my aunt. Their wisdom and traditional ways taught me how to harness my strength when I desperately needed it. Without them and their lessons, I would not be who I am today: a book editor, a mom, a friend, a wife, a daughter, and a Cervivor.

Joslyn Paguio graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a BA in Literature. She is currently a Senior Acquisitions Editor at Elsevier, overseeing the Neuroscience and Psychology book list. Since being diagnosed at 18 with HPV and then cervical cancer, with multiple recurrences, she has dedicated herself to educating others and advocating for the HPV vaccine. She is currently hosting a monthly podcast for Cervivor, interviewing cervical cancer patients and survivors, and addressing issues they face. During her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling with her family.