An Unforgettable Year

By Alex KregerIt’s hard to believe that just one year ago, I joined CureCervicalCancer as a Program Coordinator. Although I had an idea of what the position entailed, nothing prepared me for the incredible experience that lay ahead. I’d never been a part of such a tight-knit team working towards such a noble goal. Within two months, I found myself on the ground in Nansio, Tanzania, working to set up a cervical cancer clinic with my coworkers, Rebecca and Phorum. The trip provided eye-opening exposure to the realities of daily life in a developing country, specifically within the realm of women’s health and access to healthcare. We were providing cervical cancer screenings to women who may have never received a pelvic exam in their entire lives, who had walked for miles just for our services. To establish a sustainable cervical cancer screening and prevention clinic on this remote island in the middle of Lake Victoria was to extend a lifeline to all of the women in the community.

I left that week in Tanzania with an overwhelming appreciation for the work that CCC does, and its commitment to reaching women in some of the most isolated parts of the world. Since that fateful first trip, I have been lucky to attend two other unforgettable training programs (one in Tanzania, the other in Vietnam), each one further affirming my faith in CureCervicalCancer’s mission and passion for women’s health.

                   

Tomorrow marks my last day as a part of the CCC team, and it is difficult to imagine life without Dr. Gordon and all of my wonderful coworkers. Still, I know that CCC’s best years lay ahead, and I can’t wait to watch the organization grow and expand its reach to women all over the globe. This incredible opportunity will stay with me for the rest of my life.