National Conference

Colon Cancer Alliance 2012 Sapphire Awards

The Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) is proud to present the winners of the 2012 Colon Cancer Alliance Sapphire Awards.

The Sapphire Awards were created to recognize and celebrate innovators and leaders in the fight against colorectal cancer. Winners were acknowledged during the Colon Cancer Alliance’s National Conference on Saturday, July 21, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Read the full press release.

Sapphire Distinguished Service Award: Teri Griege

Teri Griege of St. Louis, Missouri was named the recipient of the Sapphire Distinguished Service Award. This award recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the patient community and has made an impact in advocacy, screening and prevention of colorectal cancer.

An avid multi-sport athlete, Teri completed her first Ironman in 2008 at the age of 47. One year later, she was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. Her diagnosis didn’t stop her. She continued training and became the only person to ever participate in the grueling Ford Ironman World Championship while undergoing bi-monthly chemotherapy treatment. Teri works tirelessly as an advocate for early detection and prevention of the disease and willingly spends her time mentoring fellow patients battling the disease. Teri’s passionate message of prevention and screening saved her sister, whose cancer is in remission.

Sapphire Visionary Award: Nancy Roach

The Sapphire Visionary Award is being bestowed upon Nancy Roach of Hood River, Oregon. The Visionary Award recognizes an individual who is committed to making a difference in colorectal cancer through extraordinary contributions at both the local and national levels.

Nancy exemplifies everything a true visionary should be. She is a fierce advocate for colon cancer patients, is a cancer survivor herself, and was an original founder of the Colon Cancer Alliance. She regularly works with government agencies, elected officials and corporations as well as the gastrointestinal research community. Continuing her quest to ensure greater awareness to colon cancer, she founded Fight Colorectal Cancer in order to provide additional focus, infrastructure and support to the advocacy movement.

Gordon Cole accepts the Sapphire Visionary Award on behalf of Nancy Roach.

Excellence in Patient Care Sapphire Award: Violeta Gnatz, BSN, CGRN

Violeta Gnatz, BSN, CGRN, of Plainfield, Illinois, is the recipient of the Excellence in Patient Care Sapphire Award. This award recognizes a distinguished health care professional who has gone above and beyond to make a positive contribution to the treatment of colorectal cancer.

For more than 25 years, Violeta has worked tirelessly as a nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital. For 14 of those years, she has worked in the endoscopy unit where she leads the charge in educating patients and employees about the importance of colon cancer screening. Violeta is an active participant at many Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates events while continuing to provide daily care her patients.

Sapphire Corporate Award: Northside Hospital

The Sapphire Corporate Award recognizes leadership of a business or health care organization that works to advance the treatment, screening, awareness and education of colorectal cancer on a national platform. Northside Hospital with three locations in Georgia (Atlanta, Cherokee and Forsyth) is this year’s Sapphire Corporate Award recipient.

Northside set three majors goals for itself, including increasing cancer care access to medically underserved populations, enhancing the quality of patient care, and supporting cancer research. Northside, along with a staff of dedicated employees, is well on its way to achieving its goals through its Financial Access Surgery Program, a unique outpatient surgery and endoscopy charity care program for those in need.

Venteria Knight accepts the Sapphire Corporate Award on behalf of Northside Hospital.

Sapphire Award for Best Undy 5000 Management: CCA Voices of Central Arizona Chapter

The CCA Voices of Central Arizona Chapter is receiving the Sapphire Award for Best Undy 5000 Management. This award recognizes a Colon Cancer Alliance Undy 5000 Management team who motivates and educates communities about colorectal cancer screening and celebrates survivorship.

The Arizona Chapter has worked tirelessly to increase prevention and early detection of this disease all across the state. Their partnership with the Arizona Department of Health Services helped grow the Colon Cancer Alliances’ Phoenix Undy 5000 5K event to be one the largest and most successful Undy races to date. The Undy 5000 takes place in more than 20 locations throughout the United States.

The CCA Voices of Central Arizona accept the Sapphire Award for Best Undy 5000 Management.

Contact

For more information about the Colon Cancer Alliance Sapphire Awards, please contact:

Stephanie Guiffré
Conference Manager
Colon Cancer Alliance
(703) 477-1463

Return