Damaris Pearson was born in Panama and traveled the globe as part of a military family. She recalls her formative years spent in Germany’s big cities and later graduating from high school in the lesser-known town of Waynesville, Missouri. Fast forward several years and zip codes, and Damaris is a proud University of Washington alumni with a Master’s in Public Administration.

Damaris learned early in her career that corporate culture was not her “cup of tea,” so she pivoted to the field of education where she discovered a soul-filling connection mentoring youth in Career & Technical Education (CTE). Damaris’ face lights up as she recounts examples of students applying the curriculum she taught to real-life circumstances and succeeding! She championed financial literacy skills inside Seattle schools and throughout the community even before local districts had formally adopted them as requirements.

Damaris applies the same forward-looking posture to her personal life. Her mother had been diagnosed a year before she was, so when a woman friend at her church was selling cancer insurance, Damaris purchased it “just in case.” She ended up using it. It’s a decision she’s never regretted and a resource to which she wishes all people, especially women with family histories of cancer, were given access.

It’s been 12 years since Damaris received her first cancer diagnosis. Initially chemotherapy was more manageable than she had anticipated, but the 4-5 weeks of radiation every single weekday following was brutal. Cold, steel tables. Unforgiving, industrial machines. Staff who began as complete strangers tasked with the most intimate of care. It was all very different from the warm, collaborative environment she was used to with her students. Damaris’ body was weak, but she found emotional strength in the overwhelming support of her two sons and church family who rallied when she couldn’t.

Shortly after treatment, Damaris began adjusting the way she ate and joined Team Survivor’s Dragon Boating team. She also completed 3-day walks in Seattle, Portland and San Diego – more travel, more connection, more hope! The pieces were falling back into place, but this time with more intention: Damaris values nutrition and movement every day.

In February of 2022, Damaris received her second but smaller diagnosis and was able to recover faster. She saw a Facebook ad promoting Team Survivor’s winter snowshoeing event and signed up to participate. The trip to Snoqualmie Pass proved to be a scenic, rewarding adventure with a community who still understands.

Damaris has been a volunteer leader in Team Survivor’s Walking Group program and serves on the Team Survivor Northwest board.