Valerie David Presents The Pink Hulk Forums: Thought Leader Discussions and Resources

In honor of October Breast Cancer Awareness Month, three-time cancer survivor Valerie David has created The Pink Hulk Forums, a new series of discussions with thought leaders who are superheroes in their fields. Offering empowering insights, tools and resources for today and the future, Valerie will lead a panel of experts in the fields of medicine, health/wellness and entertainment on a variety of topics from self-care to patient advocacy to medical advancements and more.

Forum #1 is entitled "Self-Care: Cancer & COVID - Empowering Wellness Tools and Resources" and will be presented on Zoom, Tuesday, October 20, 2020, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

Participants may attend the Zoom forum by visiting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/ 85815515117?pwd= czdNaDYxWWxPcFJ4dTlwZ01SNUZPZz 09

Meeting ID: 858 1551 5117

Passcode: 551583

Moderator Valerie David will be joined by panelists, including two-time breast cancer survivor and founder of "Courageous Diva" Barbara Palmer, who is also serving as the evening's co-host; breast cancer survivor and founder of Global Soul 3TG (3 Tier Giving) Erin Fairman; breast cancer survivor, comedian, actor and writer Jenny Saldaña; and department chair and associate director at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center (Richmond, VA) Dr. Vanessa B. Sheppard, who is a leader in the field of cancer prevention and education.

"The Pink Hulk Forums is a natural and exciting evolution for my message of hope and empowerment during this time of global crisis," stated Valerie David. "Allowing others to gain the insights, tools and resources from these incredible thought leaders in their fields is a dream come true. As a three-time cancer survivor, my calling is to inspire and empower not just those going through cancer, but through any challenge in life."

Panelists for "Self-Care: Cancer & COVID - Empowering Wellness Tools"

Barbara Palmer, aka "Courageous Diva," is a two-time breast cancer survivor who is a Breast Cancer Awareness Advocate, Spokesperson as well as Motivational Speaker. She has been teaching, encouraging and inspiring numerous women locally and nationally through their cancer journey since 2004. Barbara gets her greatest joy from inspiring, encouraging and giving hope to others while putting a smile on their face. She looks forward to future opportunities which will allow her to LIVE BOLDLY and dares each of you to live boldly as well. https://courageousdiva2011.com/

Erin Fairman is a breast cancer survivor and founder of 3TG (3 Tier Giving). Inspired by her parents' commitment to community and global service along with her personal breast cancer journey in 2016, Erin Fairman created Global Soul 3TG to help families and loved ones better understand this journey. She decided to create comfort care kits for cancer patients, with sustainable fair trade products, with the mission to nurture every woman going through the cancer experience. What is 3TG?: 3 Tier Giving. Giving to low income cancer patients. Giving support to global fair trade artisans. Giving support to women-owned businesses. https://globalsoul3tg.com/

Jenny Saldaña is a breast cancer survivor, comedian, actor and writer; and most importantly a cancer survivor. Since her diagnosis, she has dedicated her life to cancer awareness and spreading joy and laughter via her comedy. Had it not been for cancer she would stink at comedy since her parents loved her and she wasn't bullied in school. She once baked a delicious pie and won't stop talking about it. https://www.jennysaldana.com/

Dr. Vanessa B. Sheppard serves as associate director, Community Outreach Engagement and Health Disparities at VCU Massey Cancer Center. Sheppard is chair of the Department of Health Behavior and Policy at VCU. In her role as associate director, Sheppard serves on the cancer center's executive committee and leads Massey's efforts to advance high-priority disparities and minority health research across its various research programs and themes. This critical area of research explores why certain groups may be more likely than other groups of people to develop cancer, experience cancer-related health problems or die from cancer. Sheppard developed and facilitates a disparities work group and collaborates with other cancer center leaders. https://medschool.vcu.edu/expertise/detail.html?id=vlbsheppard

Valerie David (moderator) is “The Pink Hulk.” As a three-time cancer survivor, she is committed to creating awareness and spreading a universal message of hope and empowerment. Valerie “hulked out” on cancer after her first two bouts with cancer—Stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (1999) and then Stage 2 breast cancer (2014/2015). In September 2018, Valerie was rediagnosed with breast cancer—this time Stage 4 metastatic. As of April 2019, she has beaten cancer again and has continued to beat it! Valerie reactivated her superhero within with this third diagnosis and five months later after receiving oral medications only–no surgery, no radiation, no chemotherapy, Valerie no longer has active disease. There is no trace of her cancer! She wrote and stars in her award-winning solo play, The Pink Hulk: One Woman’s Journey to Find the Superhero Within, which has been accepted worldwide into 34 different theater venues since its debut in 2016, garnering rave reviews and winning several awards. Her show is a celebration of being comfortable in one’s own skin, embracing and accepting one’s own body, and the power of our own inner superheroes within to fight back any adversity in life—to never give up and always have hope! Her show is endorsed by The Avengers’ Green Hulk, Mark Ruffalo! Valerie and her show have been featured on TV, radio, in publications, including NBC 4 New York, CBS, FOX, amNY, Heal magazine, The IndyStar, Breast Friends Cancer Support Radio Network and Mia’s World; she is also a published writer in Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Visible Ink Writing Program Anthologies.

Valerie raises money through The Pink Hulk performances for domestic and international cancer organizations. She is currently developing her new solo show Baggage from BaghDAD about her father and his family fleeing Iraq in 1941 from religious persecution—and how their survival shaped who she is today. Since the pandemic began, Valerie has continued to virtually perform The Pink Hulk with post-performance audience talkbacks and Q&A’s. Visit https://pinkhulkplay.com/ for more info.