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Executive Director / Co Founder
Lennie is the wife of Denny Woods and mother of Sara Woods and Jaqueline Woods which are her biggest loves and life focus. As a College of Charleston graduate and Charleston area native, Lennie has been successfully selling real estate. Her life revolves around her Family, community, clients and raising her two beautiful daughters. Lennie’s life direction took a drastic change when her daughter, Sara, was diagnosed with Clear Cell Sarcoma. When told there was no cure, she immediately decided that this was not acceptable for her daughter or anyone suffering from this ultra rare cancer. Lennie is blessed with a drive to get answers and connections needed for success in any road block she faces. Right now she faces the biggest one of her life. Joined by some of her closest friends she is on a mission to find a cure for CCS and believes that God has put the right people in her life along the way to do this important life saving work. Her faith gets her through the scariest of times and she feels sure that a treatment for CCS is close.
Co Founder
Board of Directors Denny Woods is Lennie’s Husband and Sara and Jackie’s father. Denny has been a well respected business owner and distributor of chemicals and paper products throughout South Carolina for more than thirty years. Denny has always had a passion for math and the sciences where he is gifted at understanding and remembering complex mechanisms and data. This ability has allowed him to connect with scientists and researchers on a level that is crucial for advancing the advocacy work he and Lennie are doing through Sara’s Cure. Denny is a Charleston Native where he was a local baseball star during high school and went on to play throughout college. He was drafted many times to play in the majors but God had bigger plans for Denny. The biggest was preparing him for his role as an advocate and change maker for better outcomes in rare childhood cancer.
Co Founder
Kelley Argraves is deeply involved in the mission of Sara’s Cure. Kelley found a passion for science early in her schooling, but a direction into research emerged after she graduated from college and met her husband, Scott. Scott was starting his own lab and encouraged Kelley to go to graduate school and join him at the bench. After obtaining her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at The George Washington University, Kelley relocated from Maryland to Charleston and set up her own lab next door to Scott’s at the Medical University of South Carolina. In 2013, after many happy and productive years in collaboration, Scott was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor, glioblastoma. Unfortunately, Scott did not survive long after diagnosis, but Kelley and their two kids were surrounded with love and support by their best friends, Lennie and Denny Woods. After a few years researching solo, Kelley began to explore other career directions. Simultaneously, Sara Woods was diagnosed with CCS and it became clear that since there were no known treatments for this aggressive and rare cancer, they had to come together to push for research for treatments and a cure. Kelley has dedicated herself to making a difference for Sara and the others diagnosed with CCS.
Board of Directors
Nan DeTurk has been the Principal of Black Powder Advisors, a healthcare strategy and advisory services firm, since 2016 and currently serves as a Special Advisor and Member of the Advisory Board for Echo Health Ventures (the private equity arm of Cambia Health Solutions and BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina). Additionally, she serves on the Board of Advisors for Stellar Health, a point- of-care solution company empowering providers to deliver high-quality care, through notifications and incentive payments.Ms. DeTurk is a member of the Board of Directors of vision health insurer Versant Health, a portfolio company of Centerbridge Partners and and served on the Board of Directors of Visionworks, one of the largest optical retailers in North America, from 2007 to September 2019.Previously, Ms. DeTurk held various senior executive roles at Highmark Health, including Chief Administrative and Strategy Officer, as well as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Highmark Health is the parent company for Highmark Inc. and the Allegheny Health Network (AHN). Highmark Inc. and its affiliates operate health insurance plans in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia that serve more than 4.4 million members. Also, Highmark Inc. provides dental insurance and related health products through a national network. AHN provides health care delivery, research, medical education, and wellness services through a leading integrated delivery network of 8 hospitals; more than 2,300 staff physicians; and key clinical and research partnerships.Ms. DeTurk also served on the board of directors of numerous Highmark subsidiaries, including HVHC (vision) , Mountain State BCBS, Delaware BCBS, United Concordia Insurance Company (dental) and Gateway Health Plan (Medicaid / Medicare business).Ms. DeTurk is a director emeritus of the International Board of Directors of JDRF, a non-profit organization focused on leading research to cure type 1 diabetes (T1D), having served as a director from 2013 to 2019 and a member of its executive committee of the board.Ms. DeTurk holds an MBA from Pennsylvania State University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from The Ohio State University. She is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Board of Directors
Dru’s heart is in developing great relationships with the customers he meets through his business, Rogue Motion. Dru loves people and cherishes building relationships with all who cross his path. Dru is a Charleston native having been raised on James Island, South Carolina, where he still resides with wife, Kelly, and his 2 beautiful daughters, Avie and Kailynn. Boating, fishing, and golf are among Dru’s many interests, yet he says his proudest moment is being a Dad. Dru’s love of golf and love for his community lead him to becoming the girls middle school and high school golf coach for over 6 years. This coaching position is what ultimately lead him to Sara’s Cure. Dru was Sara Woods’ golf coach and became very fond of Sara and her family over the years. Sara was diagnosed with Clear Cell Sarcoma during high school and sadly had to step away from the team. Dru, however, continued to follow Sara’s story and eventually decided to jump in and make an impact. He, along with Rick Agius, hosted the 1st Annual Swing for Sara’s Cure Golf Tournament which to date is the biggest fundraiser held for the organization. As his relationship and support with Sara’s Cure grew involvement with the board was clearly the perfect next step.
Board of Directors
Dawn has been a Staff Accountant with Hinske Clarey in Charleston SC since 2010. She has over three decades of financial business experience in a variety of industries including a national publishing firm, a gourmet food manufacturer, a childcare facility, a high-end clothing retailer, a multi-state mortgage firm, and public accounting. She is a 1993 graduate of The College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Business Administration.Dawn enjoys spending time with family and friends, all the activities and scenery that our fabulous city of Charleston has to offer but believes the best is a day spent by the pool, grilling and watching NASCAR!Dawn and her husband Raef have two beautiful daughters, Jordan Lynn and Presley, and the cutest toy poodles ever, Honey B and Leroy.
Board of Directors
Jenae Heller became involved with Sara’s Cure after her husband Scott was diagnosed with Clear Cell Sarcoma at the age of 27. Newly engaged, it was the scariest time in their lives. There was little to no information on this type of cancer and no cure. Connecting with Sara’s Cure was a turning point for Jenae and Scott. They taught them the importance of being your own advocate and how to have an impact on the course of Scott’s treatment and future.Jenae graduated from the University of Michigan in 2012 with a BA in Economics. After graduating, she started her career at Imagineer Technology Group, a financial software company, and is currently the Director of Client Services.In Jenae’s spare time she enjoys cooking, running, pilates, and spending time with family and friends. Never being a runner before, she started running after Scott’s diagnosis, as an outlet for her stress. Since then, she has run her first official half marathon and runs her own personal half marathons in both New York City and her favorite place, Fire Island.Her husband Scott is her hero. His bravery and determination inspire her every day to continue to fight for the cure.
Board of Directors
Bruce is a Dad and the husband of Kirstin Newby. Bruce became involved with Sara’s Cure when their son Bryce was diagnosed with Clear Cell Sarcoma at the age of 23. There are no words that can describe the helplessness and pain they felt after Bryce was diagnosed. After Bryce’s second surgery Bruce and Kirstin found Sara’s Cure and it has been a life changing experience for Bryce and the Newby family. They have learned so much from Sara’s Cure in terms of support, management and treatment of this horrible disease. Bruce is a graduate of Morehouse College and has worked in medical sales for over 30 years. He has an extensive background in cardiology, pathology and molecular diagnostics. He currently serves as a regional vice president for a national molecular company servicing the northeastern part of the United States. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with Kirstin, his wife of almost 30 years and their two grown kids Bryce and Blake. He is an avid cross fitter and loves to compete in pull up and rowing competitions.
Board of Directors
Evan Barnes owns Branded by Greenville. Branded by Greenville is a brand and advertising agency in Upstate South Carolina, serving Non-Profits across the country. Evan has been an avid supporter of CCSF since 2019.
