Several years ago I began exploring new ventures and hobbies as a means of enduring the rigors of graduate school. Little did I know that these interests would stick, even after I completed my formal education. Quickly realizing that my new hobbies were massing quite the collection and doing me little benefit piled in a drawer or upon a shelf, I decided to put my interests to work for others. As I was doing my graduate work in the field of cancer research, I looked to the Betty Puskar Breast Care Center next door to my research laboratory. Meeting a wonderfully sweet lady by the name of Miss Alice who helped me to get things organized, I began donating the proceeds from items I made to the breast care center to benefit those in my community who were in need of support. Whether they needed help paying for a mammogram or paying for cancer medicines, that is exactly what echo was set up to help do...help those when insurance couldn't. So far, over $9,000.00 has been donated to echo, or the Endeavor to Contribute to the Health of Others. My goal (which was originally $1,000.00) is now up to $15,000.00. You can learn more about echo by visiting the website: http://www.orgsites.com/wv/echo.

Although my life has become quite busy working in the area of biomedical research and with the recent arrival of our twins, I still enjoy my hobbies and helping others in the process. I live in north central West Virginia with my husband (Brad), my African Grey Parrot ("Mr." Chloe), and our hooligans: Logan Maximus (born October 2008) and Luke Orion & Lydia Kate (born June 2013).

I believe that "the greatest use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it".