LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--City of Hope®, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States with its National Medical Center named top 5 in the nation for cancer by U.S. News & World Report and a leading research center for diabetes, will celebrate its 51st float in the 2025 Rose Parade.
The float titled “A Beautiful Day for Hope,” will feature cancer and diabetes survivors and their doctors from City of Hope’s Los Angeles comprehensive cancer center and its locations in Orange County, California, Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix, representing one of the largest networks of advanced cancer centers in the country and its unique integrated model, which combines leading biomedical research with world-renowned clinical expertise to deliver the latest treatments as more equitable cancer care is also championed.
This year’s parade theme, “Best Day Ever,” highlights the moments that make life extraordinary and showcases the beauty of shared experiences. City of Hope float participants will embrace this theme as they celebrate their survivorship during the 136th Rose Parade on Jan. 1.
Standing 20 feet tall with over 50,000 flowers, City of Hope’s float features two majestic peacocks with tail feathers framing its Spirit of Life® fountain and iconic brand of two adults lifting a child. Inspirational words integral to City of Hope’s mission are on the feathers: Hope, Compassion, Discovery, Trailblazing and Inclusion.
Each brave survivor representing City of Hope’s national system shared their heartfelt journey as a reminder that no one faces this fight alone.
Here are the courageous 2025 survivors who will proudly ride on City of Hope’s float:
Thom Mrozek, 62, Pasadena, California: A government agency spokesperson from Pasadena, Thom Mrozek will fulfill a lifelong dream on New Year’s Day by riding in the Rose Parade. Currently residing 250 feet from the parade route, Mrozek and his family have always found this event significant. Mrozek will be on the City of Hope float, celebrating his remarkable achievement of beating pancreatic cancer.
Diagnosed in 2012 at 49, a rather early age for a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, Mrozek began experiencing stomach pains. A mass was growing on the head of his pancreas, pressing against a major blood vessel that carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver. The mass also blocked the bile duct causing bile and digestive enzymes to back up, leading to the stomach pain he was experiencing.
Pancreatic cancer is often referred to as one of the “silent killers” because it typically does not cause symptoms in its early stages. By the time symptoms do appear, the cancer has usually advanced and spread to other parts of the body.
However, in Mrozek’s case, the tumor’s specific location caused discomfort early on. This early pain prompted him to seek treatment at City of Hope Los Angeles, which led to a timely diagnosis and successful recovery.
Initially private about his illness, Mrozek now openly shares his journey and gratitude toward City of Hope. His connection with Stephen J. Forman, M.D., director of the Hematologic Malignancies Research Institute at City of Hope and professor in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, played a significant role in his recovery.
Although Dr. Forman specializes in blood cancer, he also has expertise in solid tumors.
Only a week after his diagnosis, Mrozek was in Dr. Forman’s care. Surgery was scheduled where the head of Mrozek’s pancreas, the first part of his small intestine, his gallbladder and his bile duct were removed. Pathology tests determined the cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes. Mrozek would need six months of chemotherapy. Dr. Forman was there every step of the way. “He is the most wonderful doctor — and person — I’ve ever met,” Mrozek says.
Now, 12 years later, Mrozek leads a normal, cancer free life, a rare feat given the low survival rates of pancreatic cancer.
Mrozek and Dr. Forman have become close friends. Dr. Forman will join Mrozek on parade day. “This isn’t a ‘fun’ float,” Dr. Forman explains. “People respond to the meaning of who we are.” Being there with his friend reinforces Dr. Forman’s message: “There’s always hope.”
For more on Mrozek’s story, read this blog.
Keira Chang, 16, Monterey Park, California: In May 2021, Keira Chang was getting ready to celebrate her 13th birthday party, but unusual symptoms like bruises on her legs, fatigue and fever eventually led to a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Leukemia is the most common cancer in children, requiring immediate treatment. Chang began long-term chemotherapy at City of Hope Children's Cancer Center.
Already feeling isolated due to COVID-19, Chang’s cancer diagnosis further disconnected her from friends and school. Concerned about her falling behind in school, her family turned to City of Hope’s Academic Advocacy Program for guidance. This unique supportive care program helps students with tutoring, home instruction and school reintegration.
During her eighth-grade year, Chang attended classes virtually while undergoing treatment. City of Hope social workers collaborated with Chang’s parents, her school administration, teachers and care team to ensure Chang never felt academically unsupported.
The process was not seamless, but Chang was determined to stay mentally strong and positive. Complications from her treatment arose many times, which led to extended hospital stays. Despite those difficulties, she completed her eighth-grade year without falling behind.
After two and a half years of chemotherapy, Chang successfully completed her treatment. Finally, she began to prepare for her return to in-person learning.
“Keira showed incredible strength, courage and resilience,” said Anna Pawlowska, M.D. who was on Chang's treatment team and is a clinical professor with City of Hope Children's Cancer Center. “She is a remarkable young woman with a bright future who cares deeply about her community.”
Although Chang’s immune system is still compromised, she is getting physically and mentally stronger every day. Returning to school has been a blessing for her. She is part of the National Honor Society and also joined Girl Scouts. Her troop will decorate City of Hope’s float at the end of December.
Chang has one essential piece of advice for other children and young adults facing a cancer battle: “Cancer doesn’t define who you are. There is always hope, just take it day by day, Stay positive. You will come out of this, and you’ll be stronger for it.”
For more on Chang’s story, read this blog.
Tiffany Jones, 52, El Segundo, California: An avid rock climber, Tiffany Jones knows what it’s like to face life’s toughest challenges. The fearless wife and mother of two also does wingwalking. Wing walking is a unique experience where she climbs from the cockpit of a vintage two-seater plane’s passenger seat to the upper wing rack, straps herself to the backrest on the top wing and remains there during flight. All while traveling 70+ miles per hour at 4,000 feet in the air.
Jones wing walks to celebrate surviving cancer. “I am being my best when I'm adventurous, courageous and in flight,” she says. “It's hard to put into words what wing walking feels like, with its heart-pounding, bird's eye view,” she explains.
Jones’ cancer journey began in 2013, when a mysterious bruise appeared on her chest and would not go away.
She was diagnosed at an Los Angeles-area hospital with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), a rare and slow-growing malignant soft-tissue sarcoma affecting approximately 1,000 people annually in the U.S.
Jones was relieved to have a diagnosis, however, her then-care team was unsure how to treat the rare disease. She was referred to City of Hope Los Angeles.
Jones was placed in the care of Vijay Trisal, M.D., Dr. Norman & Melinda Payson Professor in Medicine, a surgical oncologist and City of Hope’s system chief clinical officer.
Dr. Trisal performed Jones’ eight-hour surgery to remove her sarcoma, followed by reconstruction by a City of Hope plastic surgeon. Dr. Trisal removed a large chunk of Jones’ chest wall. The plastic surgeon used a tissue flap to cover and repair the damaged area.
Due to the intensive surgery, Dr. Trisal was able to treat Jones without using radiation. “We've been able to avoid radiation for all this time, which I'm very, very grateful for,” Jones said.
Since 2013, more has been discovered about sarcomas, and there are now additional treatment options, thanks in large part to patients like Jones.
“It has been more than a decade ago when we treated her. Today, we have a much better understanding of DFSP due to people like Tiffany allowing us to study their tissue,” Dr. Trisal said.
For more on Jones’ story and to watch a video of her wing walking, visit this blog.
Juliette Landgrave, 41, Mission Viejo, California: In 2022, at the young age of 38, Juliette Landgrave felt pain and a lump in her breast while showering.
After mammograms and screening tests at an Orange County-area hospital, two tumors were found.
Landgrave was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, an invasive form of breast cancer that spreads at a faster rate than other types of breast cancer.
Although the odds were stacked against Landgrave as the five-year survival rate for triple-negative breast cancer is only 8-16%, that did not stop her from being fully committed to fighting for her life. “I’m going to be the poster child for surviving triple-negative breast cancer. I'm going to beat the odds,” Landgrave said.
When Landgrave’s first surgeon informed her that her mastectomy date had to be pushed back by three weeks, she just couldn’t accept that. Landgrave decided to find a new care team. Her search brought her to City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center.
“This journey showed me how to advocate for myself. I really needed doctors who were able to be there for me,” Landgrave said.
While at City of Hope Orange County, Landgrave worked hand in hand with their team of breast cancer experts to execute the right treatment plan. This included surgery, chemotherapy with immunotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Landgrave was happy to learn that her surgeon, Jennifer Tseng, M.D., the medical director of breast surgery at City of Hope Orange County, was in complete support of her desire to undergo a lumpectomy with radiation instead of a mastectomy.
“The empathy and kindness I experienced at City of Hope is so different than other places,” Landgrave said.
Before starting treatment, Landgrave considered her plans for a family as her goal was to have children in the coming years. Knowing she would face fertility issues due to the aggressive cancer treatments, she chose to freeze some of her eggs.
After nearly two years of treatment, Landgrave is now cancer free and committed to sharing her story and raising awareness, particularly in the Hispanic community, about triple-negative breast cancer.
“It is important for me to share my journey with my community. I’m Hispanic, and Hispanic people don’t talk about cancer. I want to change that,” Landgrave said.
And, of course, starting a family is still one of Landgrave’s top priorities. “I’m just blessed to be alive and glad my story has a happy ending,” Landgrave said.
Jose Santos, 40, Chicago, Illinois: Jose Santos, a software engineer from Chicago, found out he had Stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2022 when he was 37 years old, which would eventually lead to full removal of his colon.
In 2006, when he was in his twenties, Santos was stricken with ulcerative colitis (UC), an autoimmune disease. The symptoms of UC can completely disrupt daily life, and for 16 years, that’s what happened.
People with UC carry a sixfold higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. It is believed that chronic inflammation damages the colon lining, affects DNA and ultimately increases the number of mutations that promote tumor growth.
Santos was not totally surprised when he received his cancer diagnosis. The tumors needed to be reduced before surgery could even be attempted. Santos received chemotherapy followed by several weeks of radiation.
Standard treatment for Stage 3 colorectal cancer is removal of the diseased portion of the colon and connecting the healthy parts in order to maintain normal bowel function.
But Santos’s doctors decided to remove his entire colon, a six-hour procedure. It would require fitting Santos with an ileostomy — routing the end of his small intestine through an opening in his abdomen and attaching a pouch to collect waste. This major lifestyle change would be challenging, but the goal was to also end his 16 years of autoimmune-induced suffering: No colon, no colitis.
More than two years later, Santos has no evidence of disease. As a result, his colitis is gone, and he is now stronger and healthier than he’s been in nearly 20 years.
“Cancer was my blessing in disguise. It cured me of my UC,” Santos happily said.
Santos’ father has worked at City of Hope Cancer Center Chicago as a vascular technician for three decades, so many on the staff have watched young Santos grow up.
“He was thin, emaciated and in a wheelchair. From this skinny kid to this robust man. He got through the treatment and now has a better quality of life than ever before,” said oncologist Laura Farrington, D.O., assistant clinical professor in the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research at City of Hope Cancer Center Chicago.
For more on Santos’ story, including a heartwarming letter he wrote himself, read this blog.
Julianna Ferrone, 31, LaGrange, Georgia: Originally from Auburn, Alabama, Julianna Ferrone’s journey took her from her hometown to Georgia, as she sought the specialized care necessary to battle cancer. With a message for those facing similar struggles, she encourages: “Advocate for yourself. Keep pushing until you find the right place for treatment and someone who will listen, help and offer compassionate care.”
Ferrone’s journey began with her mother, a cervical cancer survivor, who initially refused to allow her daughter to receive the HPV vaccine when it became available. Concerned about the vaccine’s newness and potential side effects, Ferrone’s mother later regretted that decision.
In July 2020, at the age of 27, Ferrone was diagnosed with Stage 3 cervical cancer. Despite undergoing a hysterectomy, an appendectomy due to cancer spread and four rounds of cisplatin — the most effective chemotherapy for cervical cancer — her cancer returned two years later.
Approximately 35% of women treated for cervical cancer experience recurrence, typically within two years.
In 2022, Ferrone’s health took another turn when she was rushed to the emergency room and a computed tomography scan revealed eight new tumors throughout her body. Though she was receiving care at an Atlanta-based hospital, Ferrone felt her doctors didn’t share her urgency. Determined to find better treatment, she sought care at City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta.
Just two days after reaching out, Ferrone was consulting with the team at City of Hope. “They treat you like a person, not just a patient. It feels more like a community center than a cancer center,” Ferrone said.
Under the care of Natalie Godbee, D.O., a gynecologic oncologist at City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta, Ferrone’s cancer recurrence was treated with a strong chemotherapy plan.
This included a combination of two chemotherapy drugs along with a medication called Avastin (bevacizumab), which helps the other drugs work better.
A 2022 study showed that this treatment is effective and manageable for women with advanced or recurring cervical cancer.
The treatment was incredibly tough, but Ferrone stayed focused on one goal: survival. “It was exhausting and overwhelming. I’d sit in the infusion chair for nine hours at a time,” she remembers. Yet, even with the harsh side effects — like losing her hair — nothing could shake her determination. “All I wanted was to be alive,” Ferrone said.
After nearly a year of intense chemotherapy, Ferrone conquered cancer and is now reclaiming her life, beginning the journey of recovery.
Often referring to herself as a “cervivor” Ferrone shares, “Riding on City of Hope’s float in the Rose Parade is beyond exciting. I’m deeply committed to spreading the message about the power of screening and early prevention. It can save lives, and I want to make sure no one has to go through what I did.”
Elizabeth Rogers, 32, Phoenix, Arizona: At just 29 years old, Elizabeth Rogers, a single mother to two foster daughters, was ready to take the next step and adopt one of the girls. But cancer had other plans. Diagnosed with bladder cancer, Rogers faced not only the overwhelming fear of her own battle but also the uncertainty of raising two children while fighting for her life. On top of it all, she was shaken by the impersonal way her initial care team delivered her diagnosis.
The night of her surgery to remove a tumor, things took a devastating turn. Rogers ended up in the emergency room, bleeding and vomiting blood due to a massive five-inch blood clot. To make matters worse, she was told her surgery had been botched, leaving her feeling even more helpless and frustrated.
Refusing to accept her current care, Rogers turned to her best friend for advice. Her friend recommended City of Hope Cancer Center Phoenix, and within days, Rogers had an appointment with Farshid Sadeghi, M.D., director of the Genitourinary Cancer Center at City of Hope Cancer Center Phoenix.
At City of Hope, Rogers finally felt seen. “Everyone was so supportive and cared about me as a person,” she recalls. With her new treatment plan, which included chemotherapy and a type of immunotherapy designed to help her body fight cancer more effectively, Rogers began to feel hopeful again.
Now, cancer free, Rogers is refocusing on what matters most to her: being a mother. Though her journey was filled with unimaginable challenges, it also filled her with a deep appreciation for life and the chance to be there for her daughters.
Kelly Bennett, 53, Phoenix, Arizona: Kelly Bennett was 6 years old when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. In first grade, Bennet recalls her parents rushing her to the hospital thinking she had the flu. Bennett’s blood sugar levels were dangerously low, which explained why she was so disoriented.
Doctors immediately recognized the signs of type 1 diabetes.
“Bad things happen when the brain eats glucose,” explained diabetes specialist Fouad Kandeel M.D., Ph.D., the Arthur D. Riggs Distinguished Chair in Diabetes & Metabolism Research. Hypoglycemia accelerates the heartbeat, causing sweating and dizziness which can lead to seizures.
Eventually Bennett learned how to manage her type 1 diabetes. She was among the first to receive a wearable blood sugar monitoring device when they came out. For the next four decades Bennett dealt with daily insulin injections and regular blood sugar monitoring.
Bennett recalls many episodes of hypoglycemia. She spent years searching for a solution that would give her insulin independence. It was a Facebook group that pointed her to a unique clinical trial being conducted at City of Hope Los Angeles.
The trial, begun in 2019 and led by diabetes specialist Dr. Kandeel, looked at islet cell transplantation — taking insulin-producing cells from a donor pancreas and implanting them into the patient — combined with synthetic gastrin, a hormone present in the pancreas before birth, which helps produce and multiply islet cells.
The trial showed that adding gastrin made patients able to stop taking insulin after a single transplant procedure. Without gastrin, two or three transplants would typically be needed.
One year after joining the trial — and undergoing a single transplant — Bennett no longer takes insulin and, Dr. Kandeel predicts, probably won’t need it again for many years.
Dr. Kandeel is excited to see Bennett aboard the City of Hope float. Her motivation in managing her diabetes has been outstanding. She’s done an excellent job,” Kandeel said.
Bennett who feels “truly blessed,” will have a message for Dr. Kandeel, too. “I’m going to give him a great big hug!”
For more information visit City of Hope’s Rose Parade page.
About City of Hope
City of Hope's mission is to make hope a reality for all touched by cancer and diabetes. Founded in 1913, City of Hope has grown into one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S., and one of the leading research centers for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses. City of Hope research has been the basis for numerous breakthrough cancer medicines, as well as human synthetic insulin and monoclonal antibodies. With an independent, National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center that is ranked top 5 in the nation for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report at its core, City of Hope’s uniquely integrated model spans cancer care, research and development, academics and training, and a broad philanthropy program that powers its work. City of Hope’s growing national system includes its Los Angeles campus, a network of clinical care locations across Southern California, a new cancer center in Orange County, California, and cancer treatment centers and outpatient facilities in the Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix areas. City of Hope’s affiliated group of organizations includes Translational Genomics Research Institute and AccessHopeTM. For more information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.
