Board of Directors

Barbra Wiener, Co-Chair

I founded the Women's Cancer Resource Center in 1992 with the inspiration of a cancer activism movement responding to a growing cancer epidemic. My commitment to WCRC was both personal and political. I have spent a majority of my life supporting family and friends through their cancer experiences, and I am convinced that we must work together for the prevention of cancer. I have had the great fortune to work in collaboration with women of dedication and passion for life. I am thrilled to be on the board of WCA. I am a dancer, mother, organizer, and Interplayer. I like to remind people to breathe.

Jennifer Cash, Co-Chair

I am happy to serve as one of the first co-chairs of Women's Cancer Action (WCA). I've been working in the area of smoking cessation for over a decade now, helping individuals change their behaviors to reduce tobacco-related cancer risk. While commercial tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death, it is only a part of the greater cancer narrative. By participating in the work of WCA, I hope to shed light on the overlooked associations between cancer and our every day environment, assist people affected by cancer to engage with each other, and with your help make a great deal of noise when all of our cancer stories come together.

Emily Hamilton, Treasurer

I am new to the Women's Cancer Action board and its germane issues. I am not, however, new to the cancer experience which impacted my family directly for nearly ten years and eventually took my mother's life. WCA and its newly-minted mission represent the next chapter in this experience for me, one that privileges action over despair and resources over helplessness while still honoring the difficulty of this terrible disease for each other, our families, and our communities.

Ceci Shapland, Secretary

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 45, I knew I would live my life differently from then on. My friends could not believe that I had cancer; they saw me as eating right, exercising, and following all the current health recommendations. I began to meet other women in my circumstance, and many of them felt like I did. After my cancer experience, I never wanted another woman to go through diagnosis and treatment alone and I began to wonder why so many people I knew were getting cancer. I felt strongly that the chemicals and environmental toxins we are exposed to daily were damaging our health. I began to educate myself and work with the Women's Cancer Resource Center. WCRC provided support for women with cancer and their families, and also educated the community about environmental risks for cancer. I am now a part of Women's Cancer Action, and I am happy that you have come to our website. I hope you will have your questions answered or write us to let us know what you need. We really want to be here for you.

Sarah Schaeffer

I'm a Certified Public Accountant and have been working and living in Minneapolis for the past five years. In 2001, I graduated from St. Olaf College with a degree in Biology and a minor in Finance. In 2003, I received my MBA from the University of St. Thomas. I decided to join Women's Cancer Action because of the impact breast cancer has had on my life. When I was ten years old my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. After ten years, she lost her battle with the disease. The experience of being a caretaker of someone with cancer has greatly influenced my life. I am excited to take my experience and support the women of my community who have also been impacted by cancer.

Linda Simon

I am the Director of Fit to Live, a company whose purpose is to help people develop a healthy mind in a healthy body and learn skills and tools to thrive from life's events. Even though I had a healthy lifestyle, I had the experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999. This experience has made me more passionate and proactive about preventing cancer and becoming an activist to get more money spent on prevention and non-toxic forms of treatment. Through my business, I have designed practical tools and strategies to help people increase their coping and resiliency skills. These skills were very helpful during my cancer experience and enabled me to take a holistic approach and develop my own healing plan. I believe everyone should have the opportunity to empower themselves and others in their health journeys.