Winn/Byrd Award for Adults with FA
The Fanconi Cancer Foundation honors the inspirational lives of two beloved former board members with the Amy (Frohnmayer) Winn and Christopher T. Byrd Award for Adults with Fanconi Anemia. Chris and Amy set high goals, devoted their time and energy to making a positive difference, and lived their lives enthusiastically in spite of the challenges of FA.
This award was created by the FCF board of directors to honor Chris and Amy’s roles as leaders on the board. The board felt it important to recognize the importance of leadership by creating an award in their names that would encourage others to demonstrate leadership in their own way. The award committee is made up of Chris’ mother, Peggy McDaniel, his sister, Courtney Swafford; Amy’s mother, Lynn Frohnmayer; Amy’s husband, Alex Winn; the previous year’s recipient, and FCF board member, Tracy Strimling. The committee understands that individuals will stretch themselves in differing ways and will be looking at applications with this in mind, rather than with a preconceived notion about what leadership looks like.
In 2018 the Amy Winn and Christopher Byrd Award Endowment Fund was created at the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) through individual gifts from donors. Annually, OCF distributes an appropriate percentage of the fair market value of the endowment to FCF, to be used to fund the award and associated costs.
Could You Be the Next Recipient?
Awards are given to one-two individuals who are striving to make a difference and have set high goals for themselves. Does this sound like you? A $4,000 first place award will be given, and a second award of merit for $1,000 may be granted at the discretion of the award committee. Would this award help you reach your goals?
The awardee(s) will be announced at the FA Adult Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota in September 2025.
More Information:
- You must be at least 17 years old as of the award deadline
- Deadline is July 1, 2025
- Your application will address the following:
- Tell us how you are working to make a difference in your community.
- Tell us about your goals. Are they a stretch for you based upon where you are now, not in comparison to someone else?
- Tell us how you demonstrate leadership in your own way.
- Describe how you would use the award.
2025 Applications are open! Apply or submit a nomination at: Submission Form
Submission deadline: July 1, 2025.
2025 Recipients
First Place Recipient
Fatma Issak
Fatma was born in Zanzibar, where she has volunteered in rural clinics and supported individuals facing limited access to care. Now living in New York, she works as a medical scribe in an OB-GYN clinic and serves on the Patient and Family Advisory Council at the Meyer Cancer Center through Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian. Colleagues describe her as a thoughtful listener and a powerful bridge between the lived experience of illness and the scientific community—someone who elevates both research and care through empathy and insight. Fatma plans to pursue medical school with the goal of improving healthcare access for underserved communities. We’re honored to celebrate her compassion, leadership, and commitment to shaping a more equitable future in medicine.
Fatma accepting the award from FCF Board President, Lisa Mingo, and 2024 Recipient, Katherine De Los Santos
Second Place Recipient
Louise Dalgleish
Louise strives to shift perceptions of adults with Fanconi anemia beyond their medical conditions and works alongside clinicians and researchers to improve patient experiences. She’s passionate about highlighting the ambitions and everyday challenges faced by individuals with FA, advocating for understanding, equity, and support within the medical community. Louise is also deeply committed to increasing accessibility and inclusion for LGBTQ+ individuals in healthcare. Through her recent collaboration with Pfizer’s OUTpatients campaign, she shared her experience as an LGBTQ+ person living with a rare disease, bringing visibility and awareness to an often-overlooked intersection of identities. A dedicated member of FCF’s FAdult Council and Advocacy Program, as well as a spokesperson for Fanconi Hope, Louise uses her voice to uplift others and inspire change.
Past Award Recipients
Katherine De Los Santos
Katherine was diagnosed with FA as a child and faced bone marrow failure at age eight but recovered after a successful transplant. She went on to earn a degree in Biology and Chemistry, work as a medical assistant, and volunteer with Be The Match and The Icla da Silva Foundation. While pursuing her dream of attending medical school, Katherine was diagnosed with esophageal cancer through the FA Cancer Screening Study at the NIH. Despite this challenge, her resilience and passion for healthcare remain strong. Now in recovery, Katherine is preparing to apply to medical school, with a mission to serve children in underserved rural communities. We are proud to honor her with the 2024 Winn/Byrd Award, recognizing her determination and impact on healthcare!
Robin Lewis
This year, the committee honors Robin Lewis who has made remarkable progress, alongside his wife, in establishing Matches on the Map. Through this initiative, they have traveled across South Africa, recruiting bone marrow donors and raising awareness about the need for lifesaving matches. Robin’s goal is to sign up 1,000 potential donors each year while creating sustainable recruitment efforts at universities and schools that will continue long after their journey. Additionally, they are integrating FA support groups within South Africa as they continue to grow their educational talks and recruitment drives. We eagerly anticipate seeing the lives they will touch. Congratulations, Robin!
Ana Tabar
Ana, who grew up in the Dominican Republic, founded Un Corazón por Fanconi in 2018 to address critical needs for medication, diagnosis, treatment, and education for those with FA there. Through this organization, she facilitates a supportive WhatsApp group for over 73 families affected by FA across 12 Latin American countries. While serving on FCF’s Adult Council from 2020 to 2022, she helped plan two meetings for adults with FA—prioritizing international perspectives—and participated in the FCF diversity, equity, and inclusion committee. A recipient of two FA international grant awards, Ana represents the Latin American FA community at the annual International Summit. Her leadership in the Spanish-speaking FA community and efforts to educate doctors in the Dominican Republic exemplify the spirit of the Amy Winn and Christopher T. Byrd Award for Adults with FA. Thank you, Ana!
Egil Dennerline
Egil was diagnosed at age 16 and now describes himself as one of the “old guys” with FA at age 49. He is a musician, writer, a husband, a father, and friend to many. He also serves on the FA Adult Council, bringing an international and more mature perspective to the group. Congratulations, Egil!
