HERA Women’s Cancer Foundation Announces New Board Members

June 22, 2009 - PRLog -- BOULDER, COLO. The HERA Women’s Cancer Foundation (Health, Empowerment, Research, Awareness), a non-profit foundation that raises funding for ovarian cancer research and awareness initiatives, announces Samantha Lockwood, 35, of Philadelphia and James Nice, 41, of Los Angeles as new board members.  An ovarian cancer survivor and spokesperson for HERA since 2006, Lockwood will chair the nominating committee and also serve on the awareness committee. Nice will join the development committee.  Both have been active participants and fundraisers for the HERA Climb4Life Utah event. Lockwood and Nice join current HERA board members that include Maile Buker, board president, Jill Slanksy, board vice president, Angela Goodacre and Lara Usinowicz.

Samantha Lockwood
Lockwood, a manager of talent acquisition operations for Comcast Cable, was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2005 when she was 30 years old, and for a second time in 2008.  In 2006, Lockwood became a HERA ambassador, traveling to outdoor consumer events to generate awareness around the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.  Lockwood has also formed partnerships with several organizations and fundraising events including the Philly Roller Girls’ East Coast Extravaganza roller derby and Velo Amis’ Escape from Granogue mountain bike race and various cyclocross races.  

“I’m an active, young woman, an example that this disease can affect anyone,” says Lockwood. Featured as an Action Figure in the April 2008 issue of Women’s Health Magazine for her battle with ovarian cancer at such a young age, Lockwood says it is her life mission to raise money and awareness for ovarian cancer. “It’s not a disease reserved only for older women, and it’s not a silent killer,” she says. “Ovarian cancer has definitive signs and symptoms. It’s important for everyone to know the symptoms and know that they can take action. ”

In addition to her involvement with the HERA Foundation, Lockwood also delivered the keynote address at the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute Survivor’s Summit in June 2008. On her new appointment,

Lockwood says, “I’m thrilled at the opportunity to help further HERA’s mission and my personal mission to raise awareness of ovarian cancer.  It’s an honor to carry the torch of HERA’s founder, Sean Patrick, who was an inspiration to me and so many others.”

HERA board vice president, Jill Slanksy had this to say about Lockwood’s appointment, “Samantha’s focus is educating women rather than just scaring them with statistics.”  Slansky is a principal investigator of cancer immunology with National Jewish in Denver, Colo. “Through her own battle, she (Samantha) empowers women to take control of their health and be proactive in their search for treatments.”

James Nice
A sports agent at Creative Artists Agency, LLC, James Nice first became involved with the HERA Foundation in 2005 after his mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  Since then, he has participated in every Utah Climb4Life and has raised over $50,000.  

Nice brings a wealth of experience from the sporting industry to the HERA board of directors. With CCA since 2006, Nice has been certified with the National Hockey League Players’ Association since 1998 and involved in the hockey business since 1995. For the past three years he has been involved in negotiating almost $400 million in contracts. These contracts include some of the largest in the NHL.

“My involvement with the HERA Foundation has been an incredibly positive experience,” says Nice.  “Because of my work as a sports agent, I have the access and contacts to help strategically grow the HERA Foundation outside of its current niche to become a major player in the ovarian cancer non-profit arena. When it’s said and done, I want every woman to know the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, and to get to the right doctor if something is wrong.”

Maile Buker, president of the HERA board of directors, says, “Samantha’s personal experience and leadership qualities combined with James’ relationships with high profile athletes and celebrities who have an authentic connection to ovarian cancer, will help move HERA forward in the direction Sean Patrick intended —generating more awareness with a greater reach. We want all women to know about the symptoms of ovarian cancer, and ultimately take control of their health.


According to research at Johns Hopkins University, one in 57 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year. With early detection, more than 90 percent will survive. Currently, only 24 percent of ovarian cancer cases are caught early.


About the HERA Foundation
The HERA Foundation is a registered 501 (c) 3, whose mission is to stop the loss of mothers, daughters, wives, sisters, partners and girlfriends from ovarian cancer by empowering women to take control of their health, empowering the medical community to find new directions in ovarian cancer research and empowering communities to provide support. For more information, visit www.herafoundation.org.

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About the HERA Foundation
The HERA Foundation is a registered 501 (c) 3, whose mission is to stop the loss of mothers, daughters, wives, sisters, partners and girlfriends from ovarian cancer by empowering women to take control of their health, empowering the medical community to find new directions in ovarian cancer research and empowering communities to provide support. For more information, visit www.herafoundation.org.