Tina at 2008 Call-on Congress
C3 was dealt yet another blow in our fight against colorectal cancer. One of our advocates, Tina Kiser, passed away from this terrible disease over the weekend. I had the pleasure of meeting Tina at last year’s Call-On Congress. Her passion to end the pain and suffering felt by everyone touched by colorectal cancer was extremely visible in everything she did. Whether it was walking the halls of Congress or recruiting people to make phone calls during the Congressional Butt-In, Tina was determined to get things done.
Two of Tina’s fellow C3 advocates, Marilia Sardinha and Suzanne Lindley, remember their time with her:
“I met Tina last March at Call-On Congress. We connected during our training session, where I was Tina’s assigned mentor, and in between meetings on Capitol Hill. We sat on the steps of the Dirksen Senate Office Building where we talked about the journey that led us to advocacy. We spoke about our families and the direction cancer has taken us in. Tina was a dedicated advocate. A strong, wonderful, caring young woman determined to make a difference. She was an example of courage, and hope. I am deeply saddened by her death, but feel honored to have been part of her life.” – Marilia Sardinha
Tina Kiser and Congressman Zack Space (OH)
“I was fortunate to meet Tina and Tracy (Tina’s sister) last year at C3′s Call-On Congress. There was no question as to the closeness of these two sisters – both with smiles that could light up a room. Tina and her sister were vibrant, influential, and energetic – sharing a journey that both tugged at your emotions and warmed your heart. We were on a mission. In that day, that time, we were focused on friendship that was formed out of one common goal….ensuring that colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable. Between office visits Tina, Marilia, and I found a nice seat in the window ledge of the Hart Senate Office Building. We watched people coming in and out, wondered who they were and why they were there. We talked about life, about our accomplishments, about living with this disease, and about our hopes and dreams. In that short time I was touched by Tina’s passion for life and her beautiful, brave spirit. Delicate; yet strong, she was facing cancer with courage, determination, and strength. Tina’s incredible legacy will live on in our lives, hearts, and mission; and she will be missed by all of those whose lives she touched.” – Suzanne Lindley
C3 and our Advocate Community would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Tina’s family and friends.
December 26, 2008 at 2:22 pm, Terra Edris said:
Tina Kiser was my mother and the one thing that she always told us after she got sick was that if one person in our family didn’t get sick because she DID, it was alright. She wanted to make a difference. She did that through the task force in Cambridge, OH locally. She did that with C3 on a state and national level. Thank you for helping my mom achieve what she wanted so desperately…to get the word out about preventative care and what it means to people and their health. Thank you for continuing to work on behalf of all those without a voice.