Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Nevada
(OCAN)
Our Goal is to Save Women's Lives

2827 Utica Circle
Las Vegas, NV 89146
ph: 702-796-0430
fax: 702-221-5878
ovarian@ocan.org

About OCAN

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to raising awareness regarding the symptoms, risk factors, and facts about ovarian cancer. Our goal is to save women's lives. We strive to bring together the medical community and the public in our effort to empower, and activate the citizens of Nevada to fight against this deadly disease.

OCAN was founded in June of 2000 by Crispin Morrison. Crispin was diagnosed in May of 1999 with stage IIIc ovarian cancer at age 37.

We are a volunteer organization. OCAN's Board of Directors and Medical Advisory Board are comprised of a small group of dedicated men and women who volunteer their services. OCAN provides speakers, brochures, symptom cards and Patient Care information, within Nevada, on request. We also maintain a library of books and resources for survivors and family memers to use.

About Crispin, our Founder

The information that follows is reprinted from an article that appeared in the Summer 2001 issue of "WomensCare", a quarterly publication of the "St. Rose Dominican Hospital". Crispin was featured on the cover.

Crispin Morrison, was the founder of OCAN - the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Nevada. Crispin, a survivor of ovarian cancer, set a goal of hiking every trail at Redrock this year. Through her challenges, she has maintained her commitment to an active lifestyle.

Crispin, a 39-year old who has battled stage IV ovarian cancer for more than two years, has had four surgeries including a hysterectomy and routinely undergoes chemotherapy. The cancer recently metastasized to her neck. Even still, Crispin's enthusiasm is enviable.

Crispin's Keys to Survival: Don't live by the statistics, discover your purpose or what you love to do, and experience the joy of helping others.

" This may sound very strange, but even though my prognosis may not be good, I don't regret that I have cancer. " says Crispin. " I used to live as if I had all the time in the world. Now I know my mission in this life; my role is to be a messenger. "

Crispin pours her energies into the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Nevada, a non-profit organization she founded and funds through her own money as well as support from her family and community grants.

" I have found that the ultimate thing I can do in this life is to educate women about the most deadly gynecological cancer, its warning signs, and the importance of yearly exams. " she says.

" I am definitely not ready to leave this life, " Crispin adds. " But, the life I have is much richer now that I understand the potential I have to help other women. "

During her battle with ovarian cancer, Crispin had continued
to participate in sports, such as running and hiking, which
she believed were vital to her physical and emotional health.

OCAN Needs Your Help

Join OCAN
We welcome survivors, friends and family, and healthcare professionals who have been affected by ovarian cancer to join us. There are no dues or membership fees. Read More

Volunteer Opportunities
Do you belong to a group or organization? Do you know a newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patient? Would you like to visit someone in the hospital? Help OCAN reach across our state to raise awareness about this deadly disease. Help here

Make A Donation
OCAN is a volunteer organization; no dues are required. Your donation will go to provide support and awareness activities. All donations are tax deductible. Donate Here

OCAN is Partner Member
of the

Medical Advisory Board

The OCAN Medical Advisory Board is comprised of several Medical Oncologists, Radiation Oncologists and Gynecologic Oncologists in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Board of Directors

Elisabeth Williams - President
Long time Las Vegas resident, mother of OCAN's founder, Crispin, and tireless supporter of women and families affected by ovarian cancer.
Liz has made it her mission to ensure her daughter's organization succeeds and continues to raise awareness while providing support to patients, their families and their caregivers. Just one of her many public educational speaking engagements was the "Our Stories, Our Power" presentation she delivered at the AHEC First Lady's Conference on Women's Health Issues. Liz previously spent 9 years as a fundraiser for Hospice of Palm Beach County.

Cristine Botzenhardt - Treasurer
Ovarian cancer survivor
Tina has been with the CPA firm McCrimmon Ltd. for 27 years. She advocates sharing information about ovarian cancer with as many poeple as possible and raises awareness by speaking about the symptoms to Las Vegas women's groups. She serves as the lead for OCAN's survivor/patient support network.

Sandi Pniauskas - Director
Canadian ovarian cancer survivor and advocate.
Sandi Pniauskas has been awarded the Spirit of Survivorship" award from the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. Sandi gave up a successful career to devote her time and resources to learning about this disease and the varied scope and issues of genetics/genome. Acknowledging the many aspects of awareness, education and advocacy, she devotes her time in assisting other diagnosed women/families and the public. Sandi's advocacy efforts include but are not exclusive to: Coordination of "Dare to Dream for Ovarian Cancer" (the first-ever national ovarian cancer event - coordinated effort between cancer centres, oncologists and survivors/families); singular ovarian cancer public presentation to the Romanow Commission; design and implementation/coordination of "Survivors' Debate: The Past Decade in Ovarian Cancer: Membership includes the Cochrane Collaboration's Gynaecologic Cancer Review Group and, as wells Sandi spent a number of years involved with the World Health Organization's (WHO) Patient Safety. She authors an ovarian cancer information sharing blog (Ovarian Cancer and Us) and you can also find her on Twitter (ovariancancers) and ACOR. To link to her blog visit our Resources page.

Adam Morrison, Director - CMT
Healing arts specialist and Crispin's brother.
Adam continues to support OCAN years after the death of his sister Crispin. His energy, optimism and fantastic business sense have launched him into a successful Massage Therapy career in California. He received his Swedish certification in 2005 from the Healing Arts College of Las Angeles. He is experienced in many modalities and has a studio of his own.

Staff

Christina Harris, MBA - Executive Director
After a decade-long business career in companies including 3M and Marathon Equipment Company, Christina and her husband moved to Las Vegas for his most recent job assignment with the United States Air Force. When a mutual friend in the field of healthcare brought Christina and Liz together, they knew a good team had formed.

Christina's business background includes market research, product management, public relations, corporate training and many aspects of marketing. Her volunteerism ranges from mentoring to patient support, including raising funds for ovarian cancer through participation in HERA Foundation Climb For Life events and launching a new support program in an underserved area for the Alzheimer's Society in England.

Christina joined OCAN with the same shocked amazement that most women experience when learning how deadly ovarian cancer is and how little community awarness exists. The amazing strength and dedication she sees in women with ovarian cancer makes it clear every day what an important mission the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Nevada has. This awareness, her business skills, her community involvement and dedication to ovarian cancer advocacy provide the foundation for running OCAN.

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2827 Utica Circle
Las Vegas, NV 89146
ph: 702-796-0430
fax: 702-221-5878
ovarian@ocan.org

Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Nevada (OCAN) Our Goal is to Save Women's Lives

Our Goal is to Save Women's Lives