Our People
Founders
Our Story
Stephanie Klaus & Walter Lemmo
In late 2009, we both realized from our own unique experiences, a serious and urgent need for Thrive Alive Foundation; a need to help people afford treatments they otherwise would never be able to afford, giving them a ‘step up’ in their healing and a whole new sense of hope. Thrive Alive Foundation was born from our passion and partnership which blended together medical and not-for-profit expertise. With devoted energy, everything unfolded: we were granted charitable status in Canada, momentum started to build and our wonderful team was formed.
The effectiveness of integrative cancer care approaches are being recognized and validated by international research studies every day, and if implemented in standard care, this movement would very positively impact our government. Integrative approaches are enhancing people’s lives and survival - not just by 2, 4, 6 weeks, but years. Integrative approaches are preventing cancer recurrence and numerous other illnesses. Integrative approaches are allowing people at the finale of their life to experience a graceful and dignified passing. We believe it is a right of all people living with a cancer diagnosis to have access to quality, effective and complete cancer care.
Thank you for your sincere interest in this special charitable organization. Your support truly means the world to us, our team and the countless people in need who are on the journey of their lives.
Our Thrive Alive Foundation Mantra
To thrive, to seek, to choose, combine and to be healed
We believe cancer care should never be cookie cutter,
We believe all people across our vast country deserve accessible integrative options,
We believe in empowering communities to provide those options,
We believe in the potential and wisdom of your chosen healthcare practitioners,
And we believe that if it works, we will try to find a way to help you.
We believe in thriving at every stage of your diagnosis,
We believe in seeking other ways of doing things,
We believe in the value and power of combining,
And we believe that healing happens in many ways, but begins with choice.
Board of Directors
Ashley Bunting
Bio coming soon!
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Mumtaz Cader
Mumtaz Cader, board director for Thrive Alive Foundation, has worked in the accounting field for over 13 years. She immigrated to Canada from Sri Lanka with her family and started her career in accounting upon her arrival. Her experience includes working with diverse businesses from public practice, gaming, retail, publicly-traded corporations and not-for-profit organizations. It is her experience with the not-for-profit sector that gave her the satisfaction she always yearned for.
Mumtaz wears many hats in her life – from accountant to marathoner to mother! Caring for her young growing family, Mumtaz hopes to instill many of the principles she learns through the not-for-profit sector in her children’s lives. Involvement in the community and numerous not-for-profit events is a priority (and a must) in her household. Her passion is to foster a diverse and caring community and help others whenever possible.
Being a Thrive Alive Foundation board director is a very humbling experience for Mumtaz and she is honoured to be part of such an important cause. As an immigrant to Canada, she knows the struggles that many face, financially and emotionally, not to mention those who live with cancer. She strongly believes in the need to provide cancer care resources and assistance for people in need; people who struggle even to feed themselves.
Anna Chan
Bio coming soon!
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Pamela Hart
Bio coming soon!
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Stephanie Klaus
Stephanie Klaus, co-founder and president of Thrive Alive Foundation, is a fundraising professional based in Vancouver. She has had five years of extensive experience working in the not-for-profit sector for various organizations, ranging from youth and women leadership to integrative cancer care. Stephanie received her undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia in English Literature and Religious Studies and a Diploma of Design at Vancouver Film School.
In addition to a rewarding not-for-profit career, volunteerism is an important part of Stephanie's life and she devotes her time to many start-up and grassroots initiatives always eager to help wherever and whenever she can. She strongly believes in the power and potential of ‘Generation Y’ and is intensely passionate about educating people about the not-for-profit sector and inspiring philanthropic leadership amongst all ages.
Co-founding Thrive Alive Foundation has become one of Stephanie’s most deeply rewarding endeavors. Everyone's life is touched and impacted by cancer or critical illness in some way and through her own experiences, she personally understands the need for comprehensive and complete cancer care… and it begins with education and choice. Unique in Canada, Thrive Alive Foundation strives to complement the work of all other cancer care organizations and give people in need a right to choose and a right to thrive.
Walter Lemmo
Dr. Walter Lemmo, co-founder and treasurer of Thrive Alive Foundation, is a registered Naturopathic Physician in B.C. and a Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology. He received his Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington after completing his undergraduate training in Biological Sciences at Simon Fraser University and in Biotechnology at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
Dr. Lemmo has been in private practice since 1999 and practices primarily out of his clinic LEMMO Integrated Cancer Care, located in Vancouver, where he welcomes and helps cancer patients from all over the world. He believes in combining the best of integrative medical approaches along with the best of oncology medicine and works together as part of a team with all healthcare providers. In addition to his private practice, Dr. Lemmo is a member of the InspireHealth practitioner team and speaks regularly at the LIFE Program. He is internationally sought for his expertise in cancer care, has appeared on various media programs and presented as keynote speaker at conferences nationwide.
The work of Thrive Alive Foundation is very close to Dr. Lemmo's heart as he experiences and witnesses firsthand the many benefits of integrative cancer care approaches every day. The lack of financial support for integrative and non-government funded treatments, which have a drastic impact on quality of life and survival, is preventing people in need from thriving - and Thrive Alive Foundation is committed to filling this crucial gap in health care.
Ben Morello
Bio coming soon!
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Peter Thanas
Peter Thanas, board director and secretary for Thrive Alive Foundation, works in property management, development, and with construction companies in Vancouver. His vast work experience includes owning a successful construction/reno project management company and as a founding partner, share holder and top contributor in multiple merchant processing companies in Canada.
Peter's diverse interests, experiences and strong back ground in business development have led him on a interesting journey working with many of BC's business associations and advocacy groups throughout the province. Peter is extremely passionate about natural approaches to health and whole body holistic medicine.
Thrive Alive Foundation is Peter's first involvement with a not-for-profit organization as a Board of Director. He is thrilled to be part of the dynamic Thrive Alive Foundation team and looks forward to introducing the Foundation to his vast network of business associates, and network contacts.
