From the Track to the Team: How Elizabeth Found Her Place at CCF
Elizabeth Melachrinoudis joined Team CCF for the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon to honor someone who holds a special place in her heart—her father.
“I decided to start running in honor of my dad,” Elizabeth shared. “I am not a runner, but my dad was never supposed to be a cancer patient. I had never run more than a 10k when I started training, and even though an injury kept me from completing the marathon this year, I am so glad that my dad inspired me to start my journey as a runner. I am excited to run for Team CCF in the future!”
Although sidelined by an injury just months before the marathon, Elizabeth remained undeterred in her mission to support the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (CCF). Her part-time job at Kendra Scott provided the perfect opportunity to combine her love of philanthropy and jewelry into a creative fundraising initiative.
“I am a big fan of jewelry and a big fan of philanthropy, so Kendra Scott is one of my favorite brands,” she explained. “What started as one fundraiser in January 2024 to hit my Team CCF fundraising goal turned into the store falling in love with CCF. They hosted a second fundraiser in December 2024, and together, we raised over $3,300 just from these events! The December event was especially meaningful. The employees wore green in honor of my dad and even curated a ‘signature set’ in CCF green. It was incredible to see how much they cared and how our efforts could make a difference.”
Elizabeth’s connection to CCF grew even deeper in 2024. After years of wishing she could do more to advance research and patient and caregiver support beyond fundraising, she discovered an opening for an Advocacy Coordinator position at the Foundation. With her father’s memory as her inspiration, she applied and joined CCF in September 2024.
“Now that I work for the Foundation, I have the opportunity to contribute in ways I never imagined,” she said. “One of the first things I did was add my dad’s records to the CCF Patient Registry. Even though it has been a decade since he passed, his treatment can now contribute to making this disease a thing of the past. The Citizen Health team has been incredibly supportive, helping me navigate the process and making it seamless even in my unique situation, having lost both my mom and dad.”
Elizabeth’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance, creativity, and the enduring impact of a loved one’s legacy.
If you’re interested in fundraising through fitness, learn more about Team CCF, which will be fundraising during February’s CCA Awareness Month. For ideas on how to get involved, visit Community Fundraising Ideas.
Patients are encouraged to join the CCF Patient Registry – it is an opportunity to participate in a global research community from the comfort of home and advance research to determine better treatments for those facing the disease now and in the future. It also provides a way to keep all records conveniently stored together for use in gaining additional opinions and sharing as part of clinical trials. Legacy caregivers can also provide records of their loved ones who have passed to help advance research in their honor. To learn more visit here.