LIVESTRONG Leader Spotlight: Joe

LIVESTRONG Leaders are individuals that make a yearly significant commitment to those in their community affected by cancer by spreading the message of LIVESTRONG. They do this by fundraising, hosting events, bringing LIVESTRONG resources to their local hospitals and more. One of our amazing leaders from Texas, Joe Volpe, talks about why he is involved with LIVESTRONG and what he is doing in his community to help spread the LIVESTRONG message.

What is your name and where are you from?
My name is Joe Volpe and I am from Austin, Texas.

How are you affected by cancer?
As a physician, I have had to inform patients that they have a diagnosis of cancer. It is never easy. What has been even more difficult has been watching a family member and friend face cancer. After watching my closest friend deal with and, eventually, run out of time as a result of cancer, I felt it was my duty to try and do what I could to help those living with and surviving cancer. LIVESTRONG became my way of giving back to those who need it. Even if it were just a little bit.

How have you been involved with LIVESTRONG in the past?
This will be my first year as a LIVESTRONG Leader; however, I have been a long-time donor raising almost $30,000 through Team LIVESTRONG and grassroots events like the Survivor Summit. I actively promote the Foundation on social media through Twitter and have volunteered at several events. Becoming a leader just seemed to be the next logical step in engaging with the organization.

What are you looking forward to tackling during your tenure as a LIVESTRONG Leader?
I look forward to raising awareness of LIVESTRONG’s Navigation Services and educating others about the LIVESTRONG mission. Public policy and legislative advocacy efforts also offer an exciting way to get involved in changing the way the world fights cancer. I am also committed to continuing my fundraising efforts.