We Are HealingStrong

Connection, support, and education for every step of the healing journey.

WHO WE ARE

Our Purpose

Mission

Our mission is to connect, support, and educate individuals in community who are facing cancer and other diseases by focusing on strategies that help to rebuild the body, renew the soul, and refresh the spirit, through God’s Word.

Vision

To see cancer patients empowered with truth, knowledge, and wisdom to heal strong and live out their greater purpose.

MEET OUR FOUNDER

Suzy's Journey

Overcoming Cancer with Strength and Resilience

HealingStrong began with a difficult question: Why is life-giving information so hard to find after a cancer diagnosis?

For founder Suzy Griswold, that question became deeply personal. After her own diagnosis and the loss of ten family members, she found little guidance on lifestyle changes, natural healing strategies, or the role of faith in emotional wounds. Out of that struggle, HealingStrong was born.

Join our Mission

Your gift provides access to community, education, and encouragement for those facing cancer and chronic illness.
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Core Leadership

Board members and key leaders who help guide the mission and vision of HealingStrong.

Kay Blackburn

Chief Executive Officer

Kay Blackburn

Kay has walked a powerful journey of faith, resilience, and hope, diagnosed with stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2016, she endured a year of harsh conventional treatment and exhausted all standard of care treatment, and a clinical trial with only partial success. After seeking alternative ways to heal her body through nutrition, integrative therapies, and lifestyle changes, by God’s grace Kay was able to put cancer into remission. Kay became a dedicated advocate and encourager in the HealingStrong community in 2020 as a group leader and developed a deep compassion for others dealing with their own diagnoses. Kay joined our board of directors in early 2025 and now serves as our Board Chairperson. Professionally, Kay has over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing and lives in Tucson, AZ.

Janet Everhart

Chief Operating Officer

Janet Everhart

Janet Everhart brings a diverse background in healthcare, education, ministry, volunteer leadership, and organizational development.
Since becoming a HealingStrong Group Leader in 2017, Janet has served in several leadership roles, including Mentor, Group Leader Coordinator, and Director of Volunteer Services. In these positions, she has supported and equipped volunteer leaders, strengthened programs, and helped expand the organization’s outreach. As a cancer thriver, Janet is deeply passionate about HealingStrong’s mission of bringing hope, healing, and community to those facing cancer and other chronic illnesses.

Drawing from experience in nursing, education, business ownership, and ministry, Janet brings strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills. She is committed to developing teams, fostering meaningful connections, and supporting HealingStrong’s continued growth and impact.

Grounded in her faith and guided by a servant’s heart, Janet is dedicated to cultivating a culture of compassion, collaboration, and excellence as HealingStrong serves communities worldwide.

Mary Ryder

Board Chairperson

Mary Ryder

Mary was introduced to Suzy and HealingStrong in 2014 as her husband Nigel was fighting colon cancer. Mary and Nigel recognized the benefit of going beyond conventional treatment to include Spiritual and Emotional healing, dietary changes and realizing that Hope is a huge strategy when battling chronic diseases. Mary joined the HealingStrong Family as a leader in Houston in 2016 and is a Regional mentor. The Houston group is the longest-running HealingStrong group. Mary is now retired, loves to travel and her focus is on ensuring that each person going through a cancer journey has a Village of support, Hope, Faith, & Love.

David Sanders

Board Vice-Chairperson

David Sanders, MBA

David is a Senior Strategy Consultant with Accenture in Chicago and lives in Greenville, SC. In 2018, he was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis after years of unexplained, worsening symptoms. Ten months of traditional chemotherapy delivered little progress, so he broadened his approach to include nutrition, faith, and emotional healing. That pivot introduced him to Healing Strong’s resources and community, which guided many of the lifestyle changes that ultimately helped restore his health and allowed him to complete 18 months of chemo and move forward cancer‑free. Today, cancer no longer dominates his life, but the transformation God sparked in that season left him with a deep reserve of empathy and resolve. David holds an MBA from Emory University and a Master’s in Nonprofit Management.

Dan Ornoff

Treasurer

Dan Orndoff

Dan is a follower of Jesus, has been married to Susan since 1992, and is a CPA by profession. He brings more than 35 years of accounting experience, with an operational focus and broad expertise in manufacturing and nonprofit organizations. Through His Word and more than twenty years of leadership in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), God has enriched Dan’s life beyond measure. In 2005, Dan was also blessed with the opportunity to serve as a living kidney donor for his brother.

Lisa Stuckey

Secretary

Lisa Stuckey, JD

Lisa is an attorney with Georgia Property Tax Counsel, LLC. She has been involved in HealingStrong since 2016 and was an integral part of the Around the Word in 80 Days podcast. She continues to serve diligently in HealingStrong ministries through product and content development and prayer support.

Dan Sartor

Board Member

Dan Sartor, Ph.D., M.B.A., LPC, NCC, ACS

Dan Sartor is the Clinical Director of the Wings Center at Eagle Ranch, Inc. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (GA) and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (GA). He holds national board certification as a counselor (NBCC) and as a clinical supervisor (ACS). Dan has garnered over 25 years of experience in mental health care as a generalist in clinical psychology, addressing issues of depression, anxiety, grief, and relational difficulties. Dan’s clinical specialties include trauma and complex trauma recovery, sexuality issues, addiction recovery, marital therapy, and the integration of Christian faith with clinical practice. His mission is to facilitate personal renewal, relational restoration, and spiritual vitality in the lives of individuals, families, and communities.

Christine Holcomb

Board Member

Christine Holcomb, M.FIN

Diagnosed in 2011 with breast cancer, Christine decided against chemotherapy and instead chose to support her immune system with raw foods, supplementation, and detoxification. In 2013, she attended the first HealingStrong Conference and realized then the importance of continuing face to face support. This led her to start the first group in Gainesville, GA. Christine is mom to 2 beautiful daughters and grandma to 3 amazing children.

Julie DeKam

Board Member

Julie DeKam

Julie DeKam lives in Phoenix, AZ, and was diagnosed with stage 3 ER/PR + breast cancer in 2015. After surgery and chemotherapy, she stepped away from radiation and hormone therapy and focused on faith, nutrition, and lifestyle change. In 2016, Julie discovered Chris Wark and Chris Beat Cancer and adopted a whole food, plant-based diet through the Square One program. She joined the Chris Beat Cancer team in 2017 and continues to serve by producing and editing interviews, supporting educational content, researching cancer and health-related topics, assisting with digital content development, and answering health questions for the Chris Beat Cancer and Square One communities. Julie brings both lived experience and practical service to her role and is aligned closely with the mission of HealingStrong to support and equip individuals through faith-based, community-centered healing.

Additional Leadership

Honoring past leadership and ongoing guidance in support of HealingStrong’s mission.

Board Emeritus

Suzy Griswold, MPH, Founder
Jeff Griswold
Cortney Campbell
Kevin Campbell
Billy Echols

Board of Advisors

Chris Wark
Cherie Calbom
Nate Sheets
Dr. Rhett Bergeron, M.D.

Support Staff & Volunteer Team

Offering their time, wisdom, and support to strengthen HealingStrong’s mission and daily work.

Mya Metzel – Communications and Partner Management
Ruth Ann Larsen – Marketing & Digital Media Associate
Joy Moleta – Web Design and Developer
Birgit Cummings – Administration and Executive Assistant
Jose Albareda – Sr. Accountant
Cheryl Collins – Bible Studies and Podcast Host
Jim Mann – Podcast Host
Kristine Reynolds – Prayer Team Coordinator
Nanci Kirkpatrick – Prayer Team
Maren Pellegrino – Prayer Team

Susan Barrett – Prayer Team
Sue Threlfall – Prayer Team
Marlene Kutac – Prayer Team
Lajuana Rich – Chaplain
Gains Gardner – Chaplain
Dawn Watson – Group Leader Mentor
Lucia Casado – Intl Group Leader Mentor
Mary Garcia – Group Leader Mentor
Colette Moser – Group Leader Mentor
Betty Roush – Group Leader Mentor