Lauren Albright, Tigerlily Survivor Ambassador
On September 10th, 2009 I was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer at the age of 28. At the time I was working as a registered nurse in a busy Labor and Delivery unit while my husband was on his second deployment in Iraq. Since our families live about two hours away, a work friend drove me to "the" appointment and held my hand as my doctor told me, "There is evidence of cancer". I had no family history with the exception of ovarian cancer (a possible link, but not in my case), I ate well, took vitamins, and exercised regularly. How was I going to tell my husband who was all the way in Basra that we would have to put off having a family because I have breast cancer? I was devastated.

I had found a lump in my right breast back in April while taking a shower and doing a regular self-breast exam. I was scheduled for a mammogram and ultrasound the same month; both of which came back negative due to my breast size and dense tissue. It wasn't until August, when I presented with new symptoms, that I was able to push for an MRI and biopsy to determine that I truly had cancer despite the previous false-negative findings. At some point, I realized that I had breast cancer - it did not have me. More women in their 20s and 30s are being diagnosed with breast cancer, it is crucial that they know how to be their own advocates. I felt compelled to share my own story to educate other young women. I don't want them to have to wait like I did and risk so much because of misinformation or lack of support needed to obtain the care they deserve.

Later in 2009, I was put in touch with Channel 7 News to do a segment entitled "Touch of Life." I shared my story and bared my breasts for the purpose of showing the local viewing area how to do a proper self breast exam. It was the most empowering moment in my life to be able to take such an unfortunate circumstance as cancer and use it for the benefit of helping so many women with early detection.

That news segment was only the beginning for me. Currently, I'm still going through chemotherapy with radiation to follow, but I want to start making a difference today, which is why I'm joining the Tigerlily Foundation as a Survivor Ambassador to spread the word of advocacy and to help educate others through my experience. I'm excited to get started and to be a member of an organization with such a powerfully important mission.

Sarah Frasier
A New Englander at heart, Sarah moved to D.C. after graduating from Mt Holyoke College.  For the past three years Sarah has been co-host of Hot 99.5’s Kane Show which has become the area’s top rated morning show boasting more than 1 million listeners in the D.C. area.

Her first media job was in promotions at the now-defunct radio top 40 radio station Z104 where she worked her way up to become producer of the Matthew Blades morning show.  She then became co-host of the morning program with Stevens and Medley on Classic Rock 94.7 and filled in as a traffic reporter on WTOP news radio. Born in Rangeley, Maine, she goes home as often as she can to her parents who have added goats to their 40 acre farm.  Sarah also has a younger brother who recently left a job in the financial services industry to join the U.S. Air Force.

Sarah takes classes at the DC Improv and is excited to make her debut as a stand-up comic.  She also volunteers at area non-profit organizations and participates in various local events.

Andrea Roane
Andrea is now in her 27th year with W*USA 9, and currently co-anchors 9 NEWS NOW from 5-7am and 9-10am with Mike Walter.  Andrea is honored to have been recently selected as a distinguished annual honoree by the ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership's Greater Washington Network, which recognized Andrea's outstanding work within the community and the region as a "leader and trailblazer deserving of recognition." The GWN serves over 8,000 industry professionals in the region.

Andrea joined 9NEWS NOW in August 1981 as the Sunday evening and 6:30am weekday anchor. In 1983, she co-anchored the Noon broadcast with Bob Dalton. In 1989, Andrea co-anchored the 4pm news with Mike Buchanan. In 1995, Andrea co-anchored the 6 & 11pm newscasts with Gordon Peterson. In October 2000, Andrea was re-teamed with Mike Buchanan for the 5, 6, and 9am newscasts.  During her career, Andrea has covered a wealth of hard news stories, from politics, the arts, education and sports to women's health issues. She has interviewed newsmakers, entertainers, and politicians including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Hillary Rodham Clinton, former Defense Secretary William Cohen, David Rockefeller, Michael J. Fox, Danny Glover, Magic Johnson and author Mary Higgins Clarke. She covered the 1996 Republican and Democratic conventions and the 1988 GOP convention.

Andrea is best known to viewers for her passionate reporting on breast health issues and promoting the importance of Early Detection in the fight against breast cancer. Andrea was recently named one of Washingtonian Magazine's sixteen "Washingtonians Of The Year" for her continued work on breast cancer awareness. Thousands of women die annually of breast cancer, but the highest mortality rate from the disease is here in the nation's capital. In response, Andrea initiated an innovative Washington, DC breast cancer awareness program, Buddy Check 9. On the ninth of every month, Andrea encourages viewers to team up with a friend or relative to follow the National Cancer Institute's 3-step breast examination early detection program. Since its inception in 1993, thousands of Washington-area women and men have signed on to the program.

Andrea has worked as the mistress of ceremonies at the Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure.  Her commitment to women's health and community service has been recognized with several awards including the following:   2004 Lombardi Symbol of Caring Award; 2004 Innovators in Advocacy Award- GW MFA Mobile Mammography Program; 2002 Women of Distinction Award - Northern Seaboard Region and Greater Washington Area Chapter Hadassah; 2001 Leadership Award - American Women in Radio & Television; 2000 Outstanding Community Commitment Award - Columbia Hospital for Women; 1999 Susan B. Anthony Award for Community Service, Montgomery County Chapter of NOW; 1999 Best of Gannett - Gannett Broadcasting Company; 1998 Outstanding Public Service - Chesapeake Associated Press Broadcasting Association; 2001 Glenn Brenner Award - Washington, D.C. Chapter/NATAS; 2001 Media Excellence Award - National Foundation of Women Legislators; 1999 EMMY Finalist, Community Service Award - National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; 1997 Emmy Award/Program Segments - Washington, DC Chapter/NATAS; 1997 Gracie Allen Award - American Women in Radio & Television; 1990 Emmy Award/Feature News - Washington, D.C. Chapter/NATAS; and the 1989 Emmy Award/Feature News - Washington, D.C. Chapter/NATAS.

Andrea co-chairs the Kennedy Center Community and Friends Board and is a board member of the National Museum of Women In The Arts. She is also a member of the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation Board; the Howard University Hospital Cancer Advisory Board; the National Catholic Education Association Board and a Trustee of the Catholic University of America. Andrea is a member of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (Federal Association); the Women's Forum of Washington. She is a lifetime member of both the NAACP and the National Council of Negro Women.  Andrea earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Education and a Master of Arts degree in Drama and Communications from Louisiana State University in New Orleans, now the University of New Orleans.

Victoria Gaither
Victoria is a native Washingtonian. She is a TV news anchor and a multimedia program host, who started her broadcasting career as an intern for Ted Koppel. She landed her first full-time job as a writer/producer in Baltimore at WMAR TV, then moved from behind to in-front of the camera working as a reporter and anchor in the Midwest at WAND news and at WMDT news on Maryland's Eastern Shore. They say the TV business is a small one and she returned to Baltimore as an on air personality. At WMDT news she produced and hosted 'Good Things Delmarva' a public affairs show that she really looked forward to taping every two weeks. 'Good Things Delmarva' gave Victoria the idea to do a show with positive news. So, she created 'At Home with Victoria' a show that focuses on women's issues, the work of non-profit organizations and community stories."

After interviewing Maimah for her radio show, Victoria wanted to become involved with the Tigerlily Foundation and now her wish has come true. We look forward to Victoria participating in our foundation and joining us to help thousands of women around the country fight breast cancer.

Cynneé Simpson
Cynné Simpson is an award-winning journalist who anchors ABC 7/WJLA-TV's Weekend Evening news. Cynné comes to ABC 7 from Atlanta where she anchored the weekday evening news for CBS-46/WGCL-TV. She is thrilled to be back in Washington, D.C., where her journalism career began. Cynné was a student at Howard University when she impressed Ted Koppel with her ability to report in English and Spanish. He personally invited her to join the ABC News Nightline staff as a fellow. After graduation, Cynné transitioned to work in front of the camera with reporting positions in South Bend, Indiana and Kansas City, Missouri.

The recipient of Emmy and William Randolph Hearst Writing Awards, Cynné is most proud of her work off the anchor desk. In 2005, she received a Congressional Award for Community Service for her volunteer work with several charities. Cynné is currently working alongside singer/actress Mandy Moore as a national ambassador for the women's empowerment campaign, You Pump It Up.

Cynné's commitment to the community and professional achievements earned her the top spot on Ebony Magazine's 2006 list of Leaders for the Future. She is originally from suburban Detroit but grew up in Sacramento, California. Cynné graduated magna cum laude from Howard University and has studied as an exchange student in Spain and Costa Rica.

Cynné loves to travel and some of her recent adventures include exploring Egypt's ancient pyramids, scuba diving through a wrecked ship in the Dominican Republic, swimming with sharks in the Yucatan Peninsula, and rock climbing Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio De Janeiro. When she's not working, she's usually planning her next voyage, volunteering with local charities or spending time with family.

Korto Momolu, is a celebrated fashion designer, born in Monrovia, Liberia. She and her family left Liberia in 1990 due to a civil war and settled in Canada where she pursued her passion for fashion design. After working as an independent fashion designer and continuing her education at the renowned Parsons School of Design, Korto landed a spot on the hit show, Project Runway. Throughout the show’s fifth season, Korto emerged as a designer who embraced diversity and displayed such extraordinary talent and likability that she was awarded the fan favorite prize and concluded the season as first runner-up.  Dillard’s Incorporated has established a partnership with Korto to design an eye-catching collection of handbags and jewelry that debuted alongside her fall 2010 collection.

Highlighted as the “fashion designer to watch” by the New York magazine, Korto has been featured by major international and national media outlets, including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, People Magazine, Soap Opera Digest, The Mo’Nique Show, African Premiere Television, The Wendy Williams Show, Women Wear Daily, Essence and many more. 

Tigerlily Foundation is proud of have Ms. Momolu as an Ambassador for Tigerlily Foundation, supporting our mission to create awareness of the issue of young women and breast cancer.