Cancer is something you assume happens to other people – until it doesn’t. It arrives without warning and changes the course of your life, whether you’re prepared for it or not. Chris Martin, Executive Chairman of C.F. Martin & Co., has lived that reality. “I am a two-time cancer survivor, and I spent ten years alongside my wife, Diane, as she bravely battled breast cancer before she passed in January 2022,” said Chris. “Those experiences are the reason I’ve chosen to partner with the American Cancer Society as Honorary Chair for the Lehigh Valley Discovery Ball.”

“Over the years, I’ve learned that cancer reaches well beyond a doctor’s office. Certainly, it affects your health—but it also touches your finances, your emotional well‑being, your work, and the people who show up for you when you need them most. It’s a long journey, and no one should have to walk it alone.”

That’s why the American Cancer Society of the Lehigh Valley matters. It provides real, practical support—whether that’s rides to treatment, a place to stay when care takes you far from home, or investments in research that continue to move treatment forward. These programs don’t just help people survive; they help them rebuild their lives after a diagnosis.

“I believe deeply in the importance of our community coming together around this mission,” said Chris. “The dollars raised here stay here, supporting our neighbors and sustaining lifesaving services for Lehigh Valley families. I encourage you to learn more at cancer.org and to join us in this work. Together, through steady commitment and shared responsibility, we can make meaningful progress toward ending cancer as we know it, for everyone.”

Katie Santana, president of Turnstone Creative and creative director of Fig Lehigh Valley, is a two-time Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy® winner and 16-time nominee. Katie leads a team of dedicated marketing and video production professionals, overseeing client strategy and campaign execution, as well as the production of four quarterly editions of Fig Lehigh Valley.

As a community leader, Katie believes in stepping up for causes that touch nearly every family. She is honored to support the American Cancer Society in advancing research and providing resources so more families have the chance for longer, healthier lives together.

Angela Malpedo, family business consultant with Compass Point Consulting, serves as a co-chair of this year’s Lehigh Valley Discovery Ball. Her connection to the American Cancer Society mission is deeply personal. During her father’s cancer treatment at Penn Medicine, Angela’s parents stayed at Hope Lodge many times. It provided them with comfort, support, and a sense of community during an incredibly difficult time.

Being involved in this event is her way of giving back to a place that meant so much to her family and helps ensure other families have the same support when they need it most.