Malee Zardo is one of the founders of Lifted Through Hope Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that no woman diagnosed with Small and Large Cell Neuroendocrine Cervical Cancer faces her journey alone. Alongside her fellow founders, Malee is helping build a global community of connection, hope, advocacy, and research for one of the world's rarest gynecologic cancers.

Born and raised in Fremont, Nebraska, Malee graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Commercial Interior Architecture before launching her career in San Francisco. While her profession was designing spaces, what always brought her the greatest fulfillment was creating places where people felt they belonged. Throughout her career and personal life, she has been a natural community builder; serving as Treasurer for the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), volunteering on her daughter's preschool board, and cultivating meaningful friendships wherever life has taken her. No matter the city or season of life, Malee has always believed that people thrive when they feel connected, supported, and known.

That passion carried her and her family around the world. Together, she and her husband have lived in San Francisco, London, Amsterdam, São Paulo, Portland, and now Newport Beach, embracing every new adventure while building lifelong friendships and strong communities wherever they lived.

In January 2021, just days before her 40th birthday, Malee received the phone call that changed her life. She was diagnosed with Small Cell Neuroendocrine Cervical Cancer, one of the rarest and most aggressive forms of cervical cancer. Her treatment would include a hysterectomy, chemotherapy, and brachytherapy. Before ending the call, her doctor offered one piece of advice: don't search the internet because the statistics could be overwhelming.

Instead of searching for statistics, she searched for people.

She found it in a Facebook group of women living with Small and Large Cell Neuroendocrine Cervical Cancer. This sisterhood understood the fear, uncertainty, and isolation of a diagnosis so few people had ever heard of. Their willingness to share their experiences, answer difficult questions, and offer unwavering encouragement became one of the greatest sources of strength throughout her treatment.

That experience reinforced what Malee had believed all along: the right community can change everything.

Through Lifted Through Hope Foundation, Malee is helping build the kind of community that carried her through her own diagnosis. She is passionate about ensuring every woman has access to connection, trusted information, specialized care, and hope from the moment she hears the words, "You have a rare and aggressive cancer." She is equally committed to advancing research, supporting the physicians dedicated to finding better treatments, and creating a future where no woman faces this disease alone.

Malee believes that while this cancer is rare, every woman deserves to feel seen, supported, and surrounded by people who understand. Through Lifted Through Hope Foundation, she is helping transform her own journey into hope for women and families around the world.

"Throughout my life, I've always been drawn to building community. When cancer found me, community found me too. Now my mission is to make sure every woman facing this diagnosis knows exactly where to turn and knows she never has to face it alone."