Alegra and Bobby Woodard are NCCC chapter leaders in Northern Virginia. This decision is born out a desire that no other woman, family member or friend feels alone while battling cervical cancer and HPV (human papillomavirus). Their motivation is also rooted in the fact that Alegra is a cervical cancer survivor.
They are passionate abut helping others because they understand firsthand what it means to be diagnosed with a disease that kills more than 4,000 women in the U.S. each year, even though it is a preventable cancer. The majority of their efforts are focused toward providing support, raising awareness, and providing educational resources and other crucial information to survivors and their families.
In this Storycorps interview, Alegra talks about how her life changed after her cervical cancer diagnosis and how she decided to reach out and help other women going through the same experience. Her husband Bobby offers the caregiver perspective and offers advice to others supporting loved ones with cancer.
The Esperanza quilt was designed in honor of Alegra Woodard. She was diagnosed with cervical cancer in Hawaii in November 1999 and the theme designs in the Esperanza (which means “hope” in Spanish) quilt reflect the island’s heritage.
The quilt was hand made by Ms. Mona Ancheta. Ms. Archeta was taught by master quilters and designers, the Serrao Ohanahas, and has been making Hawaiian quilts for more than 30 years. The designs on the quilt were personally chosen by Ms. Archeta.
This downloadable fact sheet outlines the key steps to prevent cervical cancer—vaccinate early and screen regularly. It also highlights statistics that show the burden of cervical cancer in Virginia.