Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Stringer.
Hi Angela, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 2003, a group of wonderful, caring residents including community leader Kathryn Smith, oncology doctors Drs. Rajeev & Ravinder Malik, and others started the Cancer Association of Anderson to help “lessen the burden on Anderson County residents who are battling cancer.” Out of these humble beginnings, staff and volunteers at the Cancer Association of Anderson have walked alongside more than 13,000 residents as they faced the horrifying and difficult diagnosis of cancer.
I was one of these cancer patients whose journey was softened because of this wonderful organization! In September 2013, while employed as Director of Communications for Anderson County Government and after a particularly busy period of planning and executing a community-wide concert & fireworks celebratory event – Celebrate Anderson, I found myself struggling with an exhaustion I had never experienced before. For the first time, at the age of 49, I wasn’t bouncing back as I always had. The weekend following the event, I found a lump in my left breast. I immediately knew something was very wrong.
I called my primary care doctor who got me scheduled right away. That began a long and arduous series of tests which resulted in a diagnosis of HER2+ breast cancer. My treatment consisted of several surgeries and 3 phases of chemotherapy which lasted 15 months. I was fortunate to have a wonderful boss, the County Administrator, who worked with me and allowed me to work from home on my bad days and keep me busy on the job which for me – an avowed workaholic- was a lifesaver! On December 26, 2014, I completed my chemotherapy and RANG THE BELL!
During late 2015, I was approached by two dear friends telling me to apply for the Executive Director position at the Cancer Association. After much prayer and several pushes by my friends, I applied. On Christmas Eve 2015 I very humbly accepted the role of Executive Director and the rest as they say is history! Our budget has grown from $289,000 to $750,000, assisting on average 60-70 newly diagnosed cancer patients each month. Additionally, we are at the tail end of a $2 million Capital Campaign to expand our campus and services. The fabulous board members made the decision to raise the funds first with the goal of building our facility without seeking a bank loan. With the support of our generous donors and a grant from the State of South Carolina, we are expecting to finish construction this summer!
I couldn’t ask for a better job! I have the opportunity to give back to my wonderful community by sharing hope and helping local cancer patients!
I am so blessed to have a supportive husband, 4 wonderful children, and 7 amazing grandchildren! Of course, I owe my parents so much and am fortunate to have them living close by!
CAA’s Services Include:
Up to $1,200 per year in financial assistance for treatment-related expenses, including:
• Travel to and from treatment including out of state cancer treatment
• Assistance with cancer treatment-related prescription medication
• Specialized home health medical equipment
• Supplemental Nutrition Drinks (with doctor’s order)
• Free enrollment in CAA’s “Well-fit” program at Life Choice and “Lifespan”, an educational
program that is open to the public
• Medical insurance premium assistance
• Free wigs, hats, breast prostheses and mastectomy bras
CAA also provides educational and survivorship classes and referral to additional cancer-related
resources for patients and their families as well as numerous support groups
CAA is not affiliated with nor supported by larger, national organizations such as the American Cancer Society or Relay for Life events.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have had several challenges along the way to get to where I am now.
I learned determination from my father and mother who constantly told us (myself and 3 younger siblings) as children that “you can accomplish anything you want to if you set your mind to it and take steps every day to make it a reality.”
One such challenge took place in September of 2007 when my family experienced a terrible house fire. We lost almost everything we owned. At first, it was very surreal – we couldn’t comprehend what was gone and what we needed. However, we were fortunate to be surrounded by our friends and my wonderful work family who helped us slowly but surely, recover. Before our insurance company could find a place large enough for our family, we lived a few weeks in the Hilton Garden Inn, then to another hotel and finally to a house in Cobbs Glen, a local subdivision. We immediately started the process to rebuild which required what was left of our dream home to be demolished before starting the construction of our new home. We finally moved into our new home in late March of 2009.
In September of 2013, I heard those three words that stopped time – You have cancer. I can only describe it as being in a Charles Shultz Peanuts show and hearing the adults talk… everything shifted into slow motion. My mother and my husband were with me when I heard the news. My husband, Andy, had lost his mother in 1993 to metastatic breast cancer. Painful memories of her cancer journey and especially her final days of watching her brutalized by this terrible disease made Andy very fearful for me and what our family had in store.
But thank the Lord, I had a great medical team that I owe so much! Dr. Szaboltz Batizy, Dr. William Buice, Dr. John Doster, and their staff were ministering angels! I am so grateful for their professional knowledge, skill, and compassion. AND, I am blessed to be able to partner alongside them and their staff today as we all care for local cancer patients!
Since coming on board as Executive Director for the Cancer Association of Anderson, we have expanded our services and assisted a growing community of cancer warriors! Although the $2 million Capital Campaign has been a challenge, I am amazed daily at the generosity of our community who have stepped up to meet the need and bring this dream to a reality!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I LOVE my job! There are no adequate words to express the satisfaction from being able to walk alongside those who are walking a very familiar path – a cancer diagnosis. Sharing their burden and finding ways to assist them gives greater meaning to what I went through. I remember whispering a prayer early on, saying Lord since I am facing this, please use it – don’t let it go to waste. Well, HE didn’t!
Some days are very hard. Not everyone survives and some who do face challenges due to the aftermath of treatment. Some are very young and it isn’t fair! However, we help every single one, everywhere and every way we can – every cancer, every day!
I am most proud of the relationships I have built. These relationships are the foundation of anything and everything I have been able to accomplish. My passion for what I do is a gift that I have been able to share. One of the best compliments I have been giving is that when I talk about the Cancer Association of Anderson, people catch the vision and embrace the mission.
I think it is very true that our greatest setback can become our greatest steppingstone! This truth is most definitely evidenced in my life! I tend toward having an ADD personality which makes it easy for me to juggle many tasks – that is a surviving factor in my position. As the Executive Director of a very small, yet growing nonprofit, On any given day, I may meet one-on-one with a newly diagnosed cancer patient, go to a doctor’s appointments or treatment appointment with a patient, plan and coordinate an educational class or fundraising event, meet with board members to plan for our next meeting, project or plan. I have to wear many hats. No task or job is too small – I start my day meeting with government officials, business executives, nurses, and patients, and then return to the office to create an event flyer, send out an event invitation email, write a news release, or clean the bathroom! As I love to tell my staff, I will tap dance or sing until you pay me to shut up in order to raise funds to help our precious cancer warriors!
I am most proud of the work ethic that was instilled by my parents from an early age. My father, the son of a sharecropper and my mother the daughter of parents who worked at Blair Mill in Belton, SC, taught me through their example that perseverance and hard work bring a great reward and after a long day of productive work, the sleep is sweet!
My family is the center of my world! I am so very proud of them. My husband and I have 3 sons (Drew, Cole, and Caleb) who have served our nation as paratroopers in the US Army! Our daughter, Abi a twin (twin brother is Caleb) is an Environmental Engineer and works for ORCAA in Washington State. My husband is such a huge supporter to me both at home and also helping me with so many work events! I think the most unique thing about me is that I come with a team! My former boss, the Anderson County Administrator said to me when I resigned my position to come to the Cancer Association, “I am sad to lose you, but I am losing your whole family!
What was your favorite childhood memory?
It was Christmas morning when this 5th grader went into our family room to see what Santa brought. My siblings woke me up because they couldn’t wait any longer and the family rule was we all had to go into the family room together. (I would have slept a little longer…) I reached under the tree and pulled out a box wrapped with my name on it. I opened it up not knowing exactly what to expect since all I wanted was a horse, but I didn’t think that was possible. The box had a folded piece of paper. When my eyes focused on it, I cried! It was the registration papers for a Tennessee Walker named Royal Heather! I was instructed to go into the other room where I saw a beautiful leather saddle and bridle. I can still remember the smell of the leather! We got dressed and went to our friend’s home a little way away. That is when I met my best gal, my buddy – She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen! Most of my days after that consisted of coming home on the school bus and running as fast as I could to the barn to jump on her back and let her gallop through the pasture! So many memories were centered on her and barn chores: mucking the stall, carrying hay in the freezing cold, busting the ice in the water trough.
When I look back now, I know that was an amazing feat that my parents did for me. They sacrificed so I could have the best Christmas ever! And it was!
Pricing:
- Everything at the Cancer Association of Anderson is FREE to patients!
- All our funds are raised via grants, fundraising events, and the generosity of our community
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.CAAnderson.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CancerAssociationOfAnderson
