Meet Lee Sanders, YPB Member

Lee Sanders, YPB Member

Lee's heart is purple for his best friend's father, who lost his battle to pancreatic cancer when they were teenagers.  "He had a larger than life personality and to see someone with his strength and energy fall ill was a testament to how terrible the desiese is. His battle has been the catalyst that has driven me to join the YPB."

Now, for some fun facts about Lee...

His sports team is The Indiana Hoosiers.

When asked about an interesting hobby or passion, Lee replied, "I love domestic travel. I'm all about the three day weekend trips to a new city."

Lee's  favorite restaurant in Chicago is Twin Anchors. "Their ribs are unparalleled. I make sure to go on my birthday every year."

Growing up, Lee wanted to be a mailman. "Not kidding....good exercise, delivering birthday cards, whistling a good tune. Seemed like a fun time."

In the summer, Lee's favorite activity is going to the Diversey Driving Range at dusk. "It's a little cooler by the lake and very calming to hit a bucket of balls. Plus it makes me think I'm better at golf than I really am."

Lee is a Chicago native and currently lives in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood.  He graduated with a B.A. in Communications and Business from Indiana University  and now works as an Account Executive at Mintel.

Meet Katherine Dorn, YPB Member

Katherine Dorn,
YPB Member

Katherine's heart is purple for her Aunt Terri. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the fall of 2011 after months of doctors’ appointments, blood tests, and scans yielding no cancer results. She lost her battle on May 8, 2012.

As Katherine recalls, "Aunt Terri was truly the kindest, most gentle and loving woman I knew. She never hesitated to give to others, she always saw the best in people, and she adored her family. Everyone around Charlotte, her hometown in upstate New York, knew her through her work with Holy Cross Church as the Bombers Cheerleading coach, a volunteer position she held for 37 years. Aunt Terri was the sister my mother never had and the absolute best Auntie. Despite the distance between New York and Chicago, she didn’t miss a single life milestone from my birth to my Sweet 16 and high school graduation. She taught me what it means to be selfless, humble, and appreciative of life’s many gifts."

Shortly after her aunt's passing, Katherine and her parents stumbled across the Rolfe Foundation while walking along Lake Michigan during the 2012 Dash for Detection. Since then, Katherine and her nearest friends and family gather to celebrate her Aunt Terri's life at the annual Dash for Detection Event.

Now, for some fun facts about Katherine...

Her favorite sports team is the Penn State Nittany Lions, especially the football team and her beloved Joe Paterno. "There is nothing quite like Beaver Stadium on game day with 107,000 of my closest friends! "

When asked about an interesting hobby or passion, Katherine responded, "I love to cook. I'm an avid reader, especially of Young Adult literature because of my profession. I would love to sky dive one day!"

Katherine's favorite girls' night spot is Mercadito. "The hours fly by with great friends, tacos, and margaritas." Her favorite date night spot is Coco Pazzo Cafe. "It is intimate, romantic, and has great homemade pasta!"

As a kindergartener, Katherine remembers aspiring to be a teacher when she grew up. "I feel so lucky that 22 years later I find myself doing just that."

In the summer, Katherine's favorite activity is "attending street festivals and rooftop BBQing."

Katherine is from Long Grove, IL and currently lives in Chicago's River North neighborhood.  She graduated with a Bachelors in Secondary Education English and Mass Communications from Penn State University and a Masters of Education in Curriculum Studies and ELL from DePaul University. She currently works as a Freshman Reading and Literature/Composition Teacher at Waukegan High School (Waukegan Unit District #60 in Waukegan, IL).