A Champion inspires, encourages, stands up, and empowers every single person engaged in the fight against cancer. The Champions of Hope Gala brings together so many Champions from across all fields, providers, supporters, researchers, family, and most importantly, survivors.
We are honored to welcome Mark and Kim Thylin as the 2026 Chairs of the American Cancer Society’s Janus Henderson Investors Denver Champions of Hope Gala.
The Thylin family’s connection to the American Cancer Society is deeply personal. In 2025, their daughter Ashley courageously served as our mission speaker, sharing her family’s powerful story of navigating a Burkitt Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma diagnosis she received at just 16 years old. Ashley’s journey, resilience, and hope moved our audience and underscored the urgent need for continued investment in cancer research and patient support.
Professionally, Mark serves as Head of Structured Fund Solutions for First Citizens Bank and is a dedicated member of the American Cancer Society Denver Area Board. Kim is a professional interior designer, bringing a creative eye and thoughtful approach to every space she touches. Together, Mark and Kim bring both leadership and heartfelt passion to this role, united by a commitment to advancing lifesaving research and improving outcomes for families facing cancer.
The Thylin family believes in the power of community and collective impact. They invite you to join them at our 2026 event to learn more about this mission and to help drive meaningful progress in the fight against cancer.
Leadership
The American Cancer Society is committed to funding lifesaving research for rare and underfunded cancers—those that receive little attention but have a devastating impact on patients and families. Many of these cancers have limited treatment options, yet they account for nearly 20% of all diagnoses.
With your support, we’ve invested over $5 billion in cancer research since 1946, funding Nobel Prize-winning discoveries and breakthroughs that have improved survival rates. Right here in Colorado, the Denver Champions of Hope Gala has raised $4.2 million to support cutting-edge cancer research, helping to develop new treatments for aggressive and hard-to-treat cancers.
By focusing on where funding is needed most, we bring hope to those facing the rarest and most challenging diagnoses. Together, we are changing the future of cancer treatment.
Learn MoreFor more than 10 decades, the American Cancer Society has been dedicated to pursuing better outcomes for every cancer, every life. Today, more people are surviving cancer than ever before, but there is still work to be done. Join us, support us, and help us end cancer as we know it, for everyone.
towards cancer research
winning scientists received research funding
through all patient support initiatives in 2024
