About us
In March 2014, John Champion lost a 10-month battle with cancer. He was 46 years old. John was a wonderful father and husband, a trusted colleague to many at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, and a friend to so many more. Everyone that was fortunate enough to cross paths with John quickly recognized his intelligence, his wit, and his contagious smile. John’s death was a tremendous loss to everyone who knew and loved him. No one, however, can understand a child’s pain of losing a parent at such a young age.
To ensure that John’s life was not forgotten and that his spirit would live on, Doug Silverstein and Tim Finkelston, along with John’s family, formed the Champions Against Cancer Foundation.
John’s battle with cancer was extremely difficult, and as difficult as that battle was for him, it was equally difficult for the family. Often, the lives of the patient’s spouse and children are put on hold as all resources and energies are focused on beating cancer. The mission of Champions Against Cancer soon gravitated toward the family members, in particular the children. When a parent has cancer, the lives of his/her child(ren) are anything but normal. Therefore, the mission of Champions Against Cancer is to help these children maintain a sense of normalcy through the chaos that accompanies a parent’s fight against cancer.
John was the inspiration behind Champions Against Cancer, and that inspiration continues to grow as the mission is embraced by so many members of the community. John touched many lives in his 46 years. Champions Against Cancer provides an opportunity to touch countless others in his memory.
Our Mission
The mission of the Champions Against Cancer Foundation is to help children who have a parent or full-time caregiver with cancer maintain a sense of normalcy as their family faces the many challenges of fighting the disease.
Our Goal
Our goal is to provide
financial assistance, support, strength and inspiration to children who have a parent or full-time caregiver who has cancer through community outreach; educational material about the causes and prevention of cancer; information about support networks available in Howard County and beyond.
Board of Directors
Dave Stepherson
is a portfolio manager in the Private Client group at Brown Advisory. He began his investment career as a portfolio manager in the Personal Trust division of Mercantile Safe Deposit and Trust. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, BA (1989) and earned his CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) in 1997. He lived in Howard County for 34 years, and currently resides in Arlington, VA. He and his wife, Kim, have two children. Dave learned about Champions Against Cancer from board members and decided to get involved. The impact the organization has on families in need of help brings more meaning to his life.
Janet Briel
is an experienced Oncology Nurse with more than 40 years of dedicated service, currently in Oncology Nursing Education at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Throughout her career, she has been deeply committed to supporting patients and families as they navigate the challenges of a cancer diagnosis, offering both clinical expertise and compassionate care. A resident of Howard County for over 33 years, Janet is a devoted wife and mother of 3. Her passion for patient advocacy extends beyond the hospital setting through her ongoing involvement with Champions Against Cancer. She has served on the Board since 2017 and remains actively engaged in advancing its mission to support individuals affected by cancer.
Nicky Seymour
a Howard County resident and school counselor, was introduced to Champions Against Cancer by a dear friend. Inspired by the organization's mission and her own experience supporting a parent through cancer, she joined the board to help make a meaningful difference in the lives of children whose parents are battling or have battled cancer. She believes every child deserves support, connection, and hope during difficult times, and is honored to serve children and families throughout Howard County.
Amy Champion
is grateful to be a part of CAC. Having experienced how cancer impacts families, and children in particular, she understands how important it is to keep the focus on the children who have a parent with cancer. She also understands how fortunate some families are, with family/friend networks, supportive employers, and substantial health insurance. And that many families are far less fortunate. CAC helps fill the gaps, both financially and through peer/community outreach.
Tim Finkelston
is the managing director of The Columbia Advisory Group and the president of Columbia Benefits Consultants, both located in Columbia, Maryland. Tim specializes in fiduciary financial advisory services for qualified retirement plans and high net worth individuals. Prior to joining these firms, Tim was a practicing attorney in Pennsylvania. Tim has resided in Clarksville, Maryland with his wife, Kerri, for over 25 years. They have four sons: Tucker, Casey, Riley, and Paxton. Tim has taken an active role in his community and has served on several non-profit boards. In 2014, Tim helped found Champions Against Cancer. Tim also coaches high school baseball.
Daniel Nail
is a commercial banker with SECU Maryland. Passionate about community service and compassionate leadership, Daniel is committed to supporting individuals and families affected by cancer through advocacy, partnership, and outreach. He works alongside fellow board members to advance the organization's mission of providing hope, encouragement, and meaningful resources to those navigating a cancer diagnosis while fostering stronger connections throughout the community.
Kim Sbarra
found herself wanting to give back to those who are less fortunate, but not knowing exactly where to begin. While starting her career working in behavioral health at Hopkins, she slowly drifted away from the helping profession and into a medical sales role. She met Amy Champion on the tennis courts 7 years ago and has attended and volunteered in fundraising events sponsored by Champions Against Cancer. She really wants to get behind the scenes and make a bigger difference.
Jeff Gover
a lifelong resident of Howard County, owns and operates PMI Mason Dixon property management company specializing in the management of residential, commercial, and HOA properties in the Baltimore Washington area. Prior to this, Jeff spent 35 years in medical sales, the last 15 as a sales director in home dialysis which provided a direct connection to patients dealing with chronic disease. Seeing first-hand the impact a product can have on improving patients’ lives was a powerful driver of his desire to get involved with Champions Against Cancer. Having known John, and along with seeing the horrific impact cancer has had on close family and friends, Jeff is excited to be involved with CAC.
Teresa Heitzmann
has been a Howard County resident for 25+ years, where she and her husband have raised 3 children. Teresa is a physical therapist, and has had her own practice for 15 years. Prior to that Teresa worked in Kernan Hospital, Montgomery General Hospital, and Bounce Back Physical Therapy. Helping families improve their quality of life is a lifelong commitment for Teresa, and Champions against Cancer is especially meaningful to her, not only because she was friends with the Champion family as they dealt with such great difficulty, but also because she embraces the opportunity to assist families in their time of need .