Catherine Cavey

Dear Venne Zimmer Family, I'm truly grateful to be selected as the recipient of the Lavender Ribbon Cancer Scholarship. It means so much to me to be recognized in honor of Sylvie and Ralph, whose dedication to service is both inspiring and humbling. I'm honored to carry on Sylvie and Ralph's legacy through this scholarship. This support will make a profound difference in my journey as a biomedical engineering student on the pre-med track at the University of Virginia. Thanks to your generosity, I can focus more intently on my studies and research without the added strain of financial concerns. This allows me to dedicate more time to my passion for lung cancer research and advocacy for early detection—an area deeply personal to me because of my mom’s nine-year battle with cancer. My experiences, from conducting research at the NIH to volunteering in rural Peru and shadowing physicians both in the US and abroad, have shown me just how critical equitable healthcare access and awareness are. With your help, I feel empowered to keep pushing for change and to work toward a future where breakthroughs in cancer detection and treatment are available to everyone. Your decision to honor Sylvie and Ralph through supporting students amplifies their impact and encourages me to reach even higher in service and scholarship. I hope to embody their spirit of giving back as I continue my academic and professional journey. Thank you for your kindness and belief in my goals. Thank you, Catherine Cavey