Kathryn
Burrows Lassiter is a cancer research advocate with a particular
interest in
assisting with
Kathryn’s
most rewarding accomplishments as an advocate are being a full-time
caregiver
and research/health advocate for her husband upon his diagnosis of
colorectal
cancer, establishing a research fund at Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center
to
support the Phase I Biomarker Laboratory, and volunteering as a GI
Patient
Advocate at Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center GI and Pancreatic Support
Group.
Contact
Kathryn at dmlassiter@earthlink.net.
As one of
David’s closest friends, Brittany Shin is extremely
passionate about the importance of cancer awareness and concerned about
the financial burdens
it may bring. Fund-raising and event planning for Big Dave’s Big Gift is
Brittany’s main focus.
Brittany graduated from Christopher Newport University with a degree in Communications studies and has years of event planning, fund-raising and promotions experience. As the current Membership Director for a chain of fitness gyms, promoting health is a daily part of her life.
Juliana grew up in Ventura,
California, a small beach town between Malibu and Santa Barbara where
avocado,
lemon and orange trees grew in her back yard. As a child, she was very
active and involved in many sports including soccer, basketball,
softball,
cheer leading, track and cross country. She graduated with a Bachelor
of
Arts from University of California at Santa Barbara.
After moving
to North Carolina, Juliana earned her Masters
in Education from Elon University. Her teaching career has been put on
hold as she raises her three daughters Grace (12), Mary-Margaret (10)
and Helen
(7). Juliana lives in Durham, NC with her wonderful husband Matt, three
daughters, Basset Hound “Maxie” and Bunny “Tobie”. Her family enjoys a
healthy and active lifestyle together… running, jumping, swimming,
biking,
tennis and golfing. They strive to strike a balance in their busy lives
and stop to honor the time they have here today … together.
Juliana first met “Big Dave” through his mother, Suzanne Turner, who at the time was her oldest daughter’s fifth grade teacher. When the class first learned of David’s diagnosis in 2008, the students were devastated for both David and Mrs. Turner. David needed a stem cell transplant to save his life. At the time, he did not have health insurance, and needed $500,000 to cover medical expenses. The school rallied together to raise funds. They sold Team Turner wrist bands, had bake sales, school dances, etc. Unfortunately, David’s cancer grew faster than their fund-raising efforts and the stem cell transplant was no longer a medical possibility. David made the decision to take the funds raised for him and make them a gift for someone else in the same situation ... and Big Dave’s Big Gift was born. This selfless act inspired Juliana to want to do more and help to share in his mission.