Founders
Created by advocates who understand cancer firsthand
We know firsthand what it’s like to live with metastatic disease, and the energy and potential for progress that comes from working collaboratively toward solutions.
Christine Hodgdon
Co-Founder
Christine Hodgdon was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2015. Christine brings a background in biology and nonprofit programming to her work of curating cutting-edge research and interfacing with patients and research partners. She has worked with leading research organizations, medical centers and government agencies to ensure the patient voice is represented early and often. She is also the founder of the Storm Riders Network, a website that shares the latest breast cancer research, treatments and clinical trials.
Twitter: @christeeny513
Julia Maués
Co-Founder
Julia Maués was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 while pregnant. Following the birth of a healthy baby boy, Julia did tests she couldn’t do while pregnant and discovered the cancer had spread to her brain, liver, and bones. After many treatment setbacks, her cancer began to respond to treatment. Cancer is part of Julia’s life, but it doesn’t define her. Her goal is to make an impact while she is alive in the lives of others dealing with this disease. She has found meaning and purpose in working with patients and researchers to make cancer research more patient-centered, innovative and inclusive.
Twitter: @itsnot_pink
In Memoriam
In 2024, with great sorrow, we lost a beloved friend and member of the GRASP team, Marlena Murphy, who passed away on July 4, 2024.
We mourn the loss of this remarkable soul who touched countless lives with her unwavering dedication and infectious smile. Marlena’s journey with GRASP began at the very inception of our organization—she was the recipient of a GRASP scholarship that allowed her to attend the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium and participate in our very first Poster Walkthrough as a patient advocate. Marlena quickly became a GRASP Mentor and later officially joined our team as a Program Manager. She poured her heart into every role she undertook, embodying the values of kindness, resilience, and unwavering determination.
Marlena was more than a colleague; she was family. Her absence is deeply felt, and her memory will be cherished as we continue the work she so passionately believed in.
