As a triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) survivor/thriver, Ricki Fairley’s personal purpose, passion, mission, ministry, and blessing is to bring focus, attention, research, science, and action to eradicating Black breast cancer, and supporting and coaching what she calls her “Blessties” through their breast cancer experience.
Ricki is an award-winning seasoned marketing veteran that has transformed her strategic acumen into breast cancer advocacy. Ricki co-founded and serves as CEO of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance to address Black breast cancer as a unique and special disease state, with the overall goal of reducing the mortality rate for Black women. Ricki has founded numerous initiatives and movements making a favorable impact on the Black breast cancer community including: “The Doctor Is In,” reaching 3 million annually; When We Tri(al) Movement, securing 30,000 Black women seeking clinical trials; For The Love of My Gurls reaching over 1 million young Black women; TOUCH Care, the first and only Black woman survivor led 24/7 nurse navigation program supporting breast cancer clinical trials; BELONG, providing support to community organizations in 40 states, the UK and 7 African countries; “SAMBAI Speaks” reaching 10,000 global viewers monthly; BlackTNBCSanctuary.org as the only comprehensive TNBC resource hub reaching Black and Afro-Latina patients; and TOUCH Talks
Uzo Osameka is a passionate health equity advocate and multidisciplinary creative committed to empowering communities and transforming systems of care. She serves as Programs and Community Lead at TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, where she oversees two key initiatives: SAMBAI and BELONG, a leadership network supporting advocates and grassroots organizations across the U.S. and abroad. Uzo also co-hosts SAMBAI Speaks, a monthly web series on BlackDoctor.org’s platform. With a background in healthcare administration, occupational therapy, and applied behavior analysis, Uzo brings over a decade of experience improving care delivery for underserved communities. Beyond advocacy, Uzo is a visual artist whose work explores themes of healing, freedom, and resilience. Her art has been featured at the Harlem Fine Arts Show and across TOUCH’s platforms, blending creativity with community impact.
Laura Crandon is a metastatic breast cancer thriver/survivor and the Founder and President of Touch4Life, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing the breast health IQ of BIPOC and underserved communities. A longtime healthcare executive, she has held leadership roles at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and UnitedHealthcare and serves on numerous advisory boards, including Johns Hopkins Hospital and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Nationally recognized as a health equity advocate, Laura speaks at leading institutions such as NIH, Johns Hopkins, and Duke to advance equitable breast health outcomes. She is also a proud wife of nearly 30 years and mother of two adult sons.
touch4life.org
Superpowers: Networking & Connecting
Bringing holistic global perspective to the table including payer negotiations.
Tiah Tomlin-Harris, MS is a triple-negative breast cancer survivor, cancer coach, and co-founder of My Style Matters, Inc., a nonprofit based in Atlanta, GA, dedicated to empowering women and families through breast health education, advocacy, and support. Recognized nationally for her leadership, she has received President Bush’s Point of Light Award, the Atlanta Braves’ Diamond of Hope Award, and Georgia CORE’s Phillip H. Street Cancer Community Service Award. A graduate of the Project Lead Institute with the National Breast Cancer Coalition, Tiah serves on numerous boards and advisory councils, has published research on clinical trials in metastatic breast cancer, and has shared her expertise on national stages including ASCO, AACR, and Capitol Hill. She is committed to advancing health equity, promoting prevention, and giving people hope.
My Super Powers:
Kyle Samuels is the founder and CEO of Creative Talent Endeavors (CTE), a retained executive search firm recognized twice on the Inc. 5000 list and named the #4 fastest-growing companies in Charlotte. A pancreatic cancer survivor, Kyle brings a rare perspective and resilience to his work, underscoring his commitment to authenticity, candor, and alignment. Whether partnering with a founder making their first executive hire or a global enterprise reshaping its leadership bench, he delivers a direct, empathetic, and values-driven approach rooted in long-term fit, trust, and shared purpose. He is also the creator of Fairantee™, a value-based pricing search algorithm that uses data to determine search fees instead of arbitrary percentages. This innovation makes executive search more transparent and equitable.
Ify Nwabukwu - African Women’s Cancer Awareness Association (AWCAA)
Ify Anne Nwabukwu, is a breast cancer survivor and the Founder and Executive Director of the African Women's Cancer Awareness Association (AWCAA). AWCAA programs include translation of educational materials into eleven African languages, Community Cultural Ambassadors, Patient Navigation services and an IROKO Queens Breast Cancer Support Group for survivors. AWCAA was launched to ensure that African-born women will have access to culturally competent cancer services thus creating spaces for cultural understanding, empowerment and support, so that no woman faces the breast cancer journey alone.
Dr. Keith Crawford is Director of Clinical Trials and Patient Education at PHEN, leading initiatives that support patients and research partners. He holds an M.D. from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and a Ph.D. in cell biology and immunology from Harvard University. A Harold Amos Fellow, Dr. Crawford conducted postdoctoral research on immunology and defense against biological and chemical threats. He later served as Director of the Center for Molecular Orthopedics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where his team discovered a novel population of early lineage adult stem cells and advanced preclinical studies for spinal fusion therapeutics. Dr. Crawford brings over 20 years of expertise in life sciences and translational medicine.
Superpower: Scientific Translator/Liason
Denise Ejoh BDenise U. Ejoh, PhD is the CEO of the Cormode Cancer Foundation and founder of the Cormode Cancer Champions Club. Since 2019, she has led innovative cancer awareness campaigns across Nigeria and the UK, using culture, language, and lived experience to reach communities. She is the author of several youth-focused books, including Halima Speaks and Brave Hearts of Zuba, and has produced over 100 educational videos. Denise also hosts cancer awareness programmes on AIT, PlusTV Africa, and Zoom, inspiring early detection and survivor-led advocacy.
Gloria Orji is a 15-year breast 2 times breast cancer survivor and the president/CEO of the Network of People Impacted by Cancer in Nigeria (NePiCiN), a cancer patient support group based in Abuja, Nigeria. With firsthand experience of the challenges faced during diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, she has dedicated her life to supporting others on their cancer journey. Under her leadership, the support group has grown into a vital community offering emotional, educational, and practical assistance to patients and survivors across the region. Her story is one of resilience, advocacy, and hope.
Director
HERAC CIC
Alfred Samuels is a UK-born security consultant with a Master’s in Security Management, and was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2012. Since then, he has become a passionate advocate for awareness, early detection, and research, particularly within the Black community. He has authored two inspirational books and co-produced the award-winning documentary A Survivor Amongst Survivors. Alfred is an active Cancer Research UK ambassador and recipient of multiple national awards for his advocacy. He continues to inspire and support others through public engagement, writing, and community involvement.
Dr. Beatrice Wiafe-Addai is an internationally renowned breast cancer consultant in Ghana and Africa. With over 36 years as a medical doctor, she has dedicated the last 24 years to breast cancer awareness, prevention, screening, treatment, and care. Dr. Wiafe Addai founded Peace and Love Hospitals, resource centers for breast cancer and other NCDs. Recognizing barriers to access, she also founded Breast Care International, Ghana's leading breast cancer awareness charity focused on education and advocacy.
Serving on numerous international boards and committees, Dr. Wiafe Addai champions breast cancer and NCD initiatives. The recipient of prestigious awards, including The President's Lifetime Award, her passion for patient-centered care has inspired women and society. Driven to eradicate breast cancer, she advocates for education, early detection, and prompt action through comprehensive rural awareness programs.
Benda Kithaka is the Founder and Executive Director of KILELE Health Association. She is an award-winning Health Advocate and published author based in Kenya, with a background in Policy Advocacy, Health Systems Strengthening, Social Behavior Change Communications, and Community Mobilization. Her policy advocacy and research work is focused on advancing survivorship and quality of life, as a critical tool for advocacy in the prevention and control of cancer and other non-communicable diseases across Africa. At KILELE Health, Benda leads a team of community-based advocacy champions who utilize their lived experiences as cancer survivors and/or caregivers to reduce stigma, inspire hope, and change mindsets.
KILELE Health is also the Secretariat for The African Cervical Health Alliance (ACHA), a network of Civil Society and Community Based Organizations (CSO/CBOs) across Africa, advocating for investments and political goodwill towards the achievement of the WHO Cervical Cancer Elimination 90:70:90 Targets.
Danielle Doucette is a breast cancer survivor and Food-for-Life health educator dedicated to empowering her community to live healthier lives. She contributes to research as a participant at the M. Davis Lab at the New York Genome Center and serves as a member of Harlem-SHARE, a community outreach and cancer support group. Danielle is passionate about transforming her cancer experience into purpose, by using it to inspire and support others.
Nana Kilemi is a Kenyan breast cancer survivor, patient advocate, and the Founder of the Needy Cancer Health Initiative (NCHI)—a registered non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for vulnerable cancer patients and survivors.
Her journey into advocacy is rooted in lived experience. During her own cancer treatment, Nana witnessed firsthand the profound gaps in access to care, dignity, and psychosocial support faced by many patients. Determined to transform personal adversity into purpose-driven action, she initiated NCHI in May 2023 as a collective of women united by shared cancer journeys and formally established the organization in October 2023.
Under Nana’s leadership, NCHI delivers holistic, patient-centered interventions, including the provision of hygiene kits, nutrition and food support, patient education, psychosocial care, breast prostheses, survivorship, and livelihood programs for patients in remission, and community-driven initiatives that restore hope, dignity, and resilience among underserved cancer populations.
As a survivor-advocate, Nana uses her voice to raise awareness around early detection, survivorship, and comprehensive cancer care. She champions patient-centered solutions and actively fosters partnerships with corporate organizations, medical professionals, and community stakeholders to strengthen systems of care and support.
Her work is grounded in compassion, resilience, and an unwavering belief that no cancer patient should face their journey alone. Through NCHI, Nana continues to inspire change by transforming her personal survival story into impactful advocacy and sustainable support for those who need it most.
