Christine Lessard
Executive Director,
12-Year Breast Cancer Survivor
Christine Lessard is a twelve-year breast cancer survivor with a passion
for helping newly diagnosed women navigate their way through available treatment options, with
gentle and loving guidance. She has been featured in Yes Magazine as well as the
Arizona Republic for her contributions as a volunteer and a leader in the fight against
breast cancer. Chris has served on the board for Banner of Hope, Inc., a non-profit breast cancer
organization, as well as HEAL, a non-profit organization that provides services to
women who are in the process of undergoing cancer treatment. She is a recipient of the Macy's
Heart and Soul Award and the Banner Health Recognition of Excellence Award, for her fundraising
efforts to the underserved women in the greater Phoenix area.
Chris joined AIBH in September of 2004 and has been instrumental in the growth of the organization.
As the Executive Director of AIBH, it is Chris' goal to help reach more women in the Valley who
have breast cancer so they too, can be prepared with all their options. Having gone through breast cancer without the
help of AIBH, Chris realizes the importance of receiving a second opinion as well as having an advocate on your side.
Her dedication to the cause and her willingness to do what she can to help women touched by this disease are truly remarkable.
Joanne Mattera
Patient Advocate, 10-Year Breast Cancer Survivor
Joanne Mattera was born and raised in Staten Island, New York. She moved
to Scottsdale with her husband Sal and their daughters Lisa and Lauren on December 30, 1978.
Her Career started in 1980 as a teller for First Interstate Bank. After three years with the bank,
she was offered a position with Discount Tire Company. She worked in accounts payable and then was
promoted to a Purchasing Supervisor. During this time, she also ran a successful clothing boutique.
In 1990, her first grandson was born and she decided to stay home and be a full-time grandmother and
enjoy her first born grandson. She now is the proud Nana to 6 grandchildren.
In 1997, Joanne went to work for the Phoenician Resort at the Centre for Well Being and became
the Administrative Assistant for the Director. During this time she became interested in
jewelry designing and started to make and sell her designs to the Resorts in town as well
as private boutiques. She left this position in 2000 when she was contracted by Costco to
do Road Shows with her jewelry.
She sold her business in 2004 to help her daughter Lauren Daniels after she was diagnosed
with breast cancer at the age of 35. Joanne also sits on the Board of Directors and is the
event coordinator for the non-profit organization the Happily Ever After League (HEAL) that
her daughter started after her breast cancer diagnosis. The organization provides support
to moms who are recovering from cancer treatment and surgery.
As a patient advocate, it is Joanne's goal to empower a newly diagnosed breast cancer patient
so that they will be able to comprehend their role as their own self-advocate.
Mary Purkiss
AIBH Web Master,
8-Year Breast Cancer Survivor
Mary Purkiss moved to Phoenix in 1982 from the East Coast. She graduated
from Eastern Connecticut State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Education. She began her career
as a 4th grade teacher in Connecticut before moving to Arizona, where she spent the next 15 years in
the travel industry. During this time, she developed a back-office accounting system designed for
small to mid-size travel agencies, which she later sold to TWA, Delta and Northwest Airlines in 1989.
Mary's natural talents then led her to a career in building and consulting small to mid-sized corporations
on business operations, sales, motivation, efficiency, training and product development.
In 1992, Mary decided to get back into the retail side of things and built a large inbound call
center, which specialized in the retail sale of discounted airline tickets, hotel and auto
reservations, and a travel club. After growing the company from 6 million to 80 million annually
with over 500 employees, Mary's path changed dramatically with the discovery of, and recovery
from, breast cancer in January of 2000. Deciding to have more balance in life with her husband
and her children, Mary decided it was time to sell the company. With a clean bill of health in
2001, a renewed sense of life and a desire to join the fight against breast cancer, Mary and her
husband Ed, opened their first Internet retail store, Beaux Tie Designs. Beaux Tie Designs
specializes in jewelry findings and Mary's own artwork, where 15% of the total of retail sales
are donated to breast cancer support and relief in the name of the purchaser.
Mary has been actively involved with AIBH for 6 years and served for 2 years as President. She is now offering
her experience as President Emeritus and AIBH Web Master.
