- Nancy Ferro"Mama Lou"Nancy Ferro"Mama Lou"
Since starting Epic Experience in 2012, Nancy loves each and every camp watching cancer survivors stretch beyond their usual comfort zone. Her main role at camp is cooking and working with Wingman and the volunteers.
Nancy love watching the impact of what a week of an Epic Experience has done for all of the cancer survivors that have attended from the first day they arrive to when they go home.
- Colin Ferro"Wingman"Colin Ferro"Wingman"Colin arrived in Denver, CO in 2004 to attend Regis University for college. During his time at Regis Colin was very involved with a retreat called Kairos. Kairos was very impactful in his life and he wanted to continue to share that with his peers throughout his collegiate experience. During college Colin’s brother was diagnosed with testicular cancer. After being the emotional support and caregiver for Michael during the last two years at Regis University Colin gained more and more affection for the cancer community and wanting to support all survivors however he could.Working at the corporate office for the Red Robin Restaurant Group Colin was in search to find a career full of passion and purpose much like his time in college with Kairos. In 2013 Colin came to work for Epic Experience part time, 6 months later he was full time. Since that time his passion for the organization and the entire cancer community has grown year after year. Colin is passionate about the outdoors and the cancer community, Epic Experience has helped him embrace both of them. He is always excited to share his enthusiasm of Epic Experience with whoever will take the time to listen.
- Jay Carter"Edge"Jay Carter"Edge"
Jay joined Team Epic as the resident Tech Specialist after attending an Epic Experience winter camp in 2015. Diagnosed with Philadelphia Positive Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in 2011, Jay saw firsthand how outdoor adventure camps can positively affect the lives of cancer survivors, and he wanted to give back.
Jay gained a newfound passion for the outdoors, and loves volunteering at the Epic Experience camps. In his free time, Jay enjoys staying active in nature, learning about blockchain and Ethereum, and connecting with other cancer survivors at conferences and meet-ups.
"For me, cancer has been a blessing in disguise. It has opened my eyes to a world I did not know existed, and has set me on a path of self discovery to find my true passion in life. "
- Gail Fay"Sunshine"Gail Fay"Sunshine"
Gail is the Epic Wordsmith. To showcase the life-changing opportunity Epic Experience offers adult survivors, Gail writes and edits marketing materials, business documents, magazine/website articles, donation requests, and whatever else needs writing and editing. She also lines up blog posters for the Epic Experience newsletter.
In May 1999, Gail was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Eight months later, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and underwent six rounds of chemo. After thirteen healthy years, the ovarian cancer recurred in Gail’s right lung, leading to surgery and six more rounds of chemo. Today, Gail is playing softball, running, and enjoying life back in her home state of California.
Gail discovered Epic Experience through two former campers. After having her own life changed through a winter camp in 2016, Gail volunteered at camps in February and July 2017 and watched the experience transform others. She joined the Alumni Team in July 2017 and is now a full-fledged, all-in member of this amazing Epic family.
- Stan Barta"Sailor"Stan Barta"Sailor"
Stan is our Epic Matchmaker. His role is to research sources of potential private grant funding for Epic. Focusing on corporate and family foundations whose missions and values match our own, he prepares the grant proposals.
Diagnosed with Stage IIIB Hodgkin Lymphoma in 1974 he spent his high school years undergoing “aheckofalotta” surgery/radiation/chemo. Cured, he enjoyed nearly 40 years of great health. However, the past five years have brought a series of health challenges to him in late-term effects from the radiation.
Stan discovered Epic Experience through a Survivorship Clinic in Seattle, attending his first camp in Feb 2017. Returning as a volunteer in June of 2017 he has realized there is no end to the lessons that can be learned from or even shared with other survivors.