A Cure In Sight™ was the idea of a group of patients…
A Cure In Sight™ began with a small group of patients who saw others skipping medical care due to cost. As a result, Melody Kling, Megan Bekkedahl, Laura Duvall, and Tania Herfurth founded the organization in 2012. They started with a few eye cancer awareness products and our original pirate mascot t-shirt. Over time, the organization grew. Eventually, we expanded our designs and opened a store. It featured the first ocular melanoma awareness products and a dedicated awareness ribbon.
A rare cancer diagnosis often brings financial hardship. Because of this, A Cure In Sight™ formed to support the ocular melanoma community. Our mission is simple: help people with nowhere else to turn. Many patients cannot afford treatment, medication, or travel for clinical trials. Therefore, we work to give them hope and a chance to keep fighting until a cure is found.
In 2014, Suzanne Lescure and Marla Avery joined the organization. That same year, we held the first Swing For Sight golf tournament in Napa, CA. Since then, physicians, patients, families, and friends gather each year to raise funds that advance our mission. Additionally, we created the Cure Companions program to connect experienced caregivers and patients with those newly diagnosed.
Following Tania’s passing, we welcomed three new board members: Susan “Zsa Zsa” Stallings, Marlene Day, and Lori Caperton. Soon after, Zsa Zsa launched the OMG (Ocular Melanoma Getaway) program, which gives metastatic patients a meaningful vacation with loved ones. Meanwhile, Lori introduced the Lookin’ For A Cure 5K fundraiser.
Jack Odell joined as Vice President in 2015 and expanded our research efforts. Since then, we have supported several ongoing research projects that depend on funding. Later on, after completing his term, Jack moved into the role of Director of Special Projects.
In 2017, we lost Marla Avery after her five-year battle with ocular melanoma. The following year, we hosted our first Survivorship Patient Education Seminar in Orlando and Disney World. This event focused on hope, education, and life skills for those living with OM.
Laurie (Lauren) Walters, PhD, joined our board in 2019. Furthermore, she brought experience in education, research data, and web development.
In 2020, we partnered with UCSF to launch the Insight Global Registry. This registry, in turn, became the first self-reported ocular melanoma patient database. Ultimately, it helps researchers identify patterns within the OM population and supports future discoveries.
