Meet The Team
Board Members
Sarah Motorwala - Founder/President
Sarah Motorwala is a Junior in the STEM Biomedical program at Plymouth High School. During early childhood, Sarah witnessed the effect of cancer on family members and was determined to help ailing cancer patients. Sarah is passionate about cancer research and wants to develop innovative clinical treatments to help patients fight this deadly disease. Her research abstract - Impact of Dopamine Metabolic Responses in Cocaine Addiction was published in the Research Conference Vol. 7, 2020 with the Univeristy of Michigan. As a Summer Intern at Karmanos Cancer Center, Sarah participated in research related to necropsies on genetic cancer models (breast and pancreatic cancer). Sarah started Knock-Out Cancer (KO Cancer) Club in High School. As Club President, Sarah has led club activities and events and developed the club website. Through this initiative, the club intends to hold events and fundraising drives, leading to cancer research donations. Sarah was nominated to the National Honor Society and is an Executive Board Member (Communications Director) at Youth & Activism Society Michigan Chapter. The Michigan chapter strives for change in the local community. Sarah has led several events, such as organized protests to shut down Line 5, and developed an information campaign about the Climate Crisis and Black Lives Matter. Sarah won first place in the regional Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) competition and was selected for State Level Delegation in 2020. Sarah has actively participated in the Model United Nations Debate Club and received the Diplomatic Delegate Award. Sarah has continued to volunteer with American Red Cross and Beaumont Hospital since 2020. In her free time, Sarah enjoys tennis, swimming, and painting.
Kamika Kaur - Co-Founder/ Co-President
Hi! My name is Kamika Kaur. I started KO Cancer with my peers to be able to support and give back to the local scientific and medical community in a meaningful way. I find genetics to be a very interesting area of science. By starting and working with KO Cancer, I hope to not only expand my knowledge base on the science behind cancer but also help others learn about it. Most of us have either heard of or participated in fundraising for cancer, but most may not exactly know what cancer is at its core. One of my goals as a part of KO Cancer is to educate people on the biology behind cancer. It's important to understand what a disease like cancer entails at the molecular level and what treating it can mean emotionally and physically.
Stephanie Lacoban - Communications Director
Hello!
Stephanie Iacoban is a junior at Plymouth High School. When she heard about the KO Cancer Team, she jumped at the opportunity to do anything to be a part of a great community that revolves around an amazing cause. Being that she has had family members who struggle with cancer and even friends. Stephanie became even that much more interested to help the KO Cancer organization further their cause and spread the team’s message. In her free time, Stephanie loves to read, study politics and law help out her community, and participate in Ted Talks and speeches. Her love for public speaking and communication, moved Stephanie to seek the position of Communications Director. Stephanie looks forward to helping the KO Cancer Team spread their message across the world, and grow their organization as a whole.
Gayathri Chava - Co-President
Hello!
My name is Gayathri Chava! As a kid, I have dealt with multiple deaths in my family and relatives due to cancer. The pain of losing a family is not something I would wish on anyone. I firmly believe cancer research needs mode attention and funding. I hope the effort we put into funding and donating will make an impact on cancer research.
Meet Some of Our Team Members
Amy Xie - Writing Team
Amy Xie is a friendly, artistic ambivert who loves to read and write. With a delicate mastery over scheduling, she carefully balances her love for her hobbies with her studies. Having an insatiable curiosity, she’s often found researching about new topics that catch her eye, which includes those of the medical field.
Her desire to learn more about the effects and possible treatments of cancer led her to joining the KO Cancer writing team. Using her newfound knowledge, she hopes to spread the things she learns to those who don’t know much about cancer, in order to raise awareness about a group of diseases that affects the lives of so many people.
Zixuan Yu - Writing Team
Hello! My name is Zixuan Yu. I am a senior enrolled at Plymouth High School. With a fond passion for studying biology, I decided to join the KO Cancer team. Enrolling in the International Baccalaureate program provided me the opportunity to study biology for numerous years. The field of biology is vast, and investigating genetic diseases has always been one of my interests. Moreover, I am intrigued by how individuals are affected by diseases, medication, and mental disorders. I take pleasure in learning new things and developing a stronger understanding of cancer. I am always willing to support those in need. In the future, I aspire to pursue a career in pharmacology to help those in need. This is my way of thanking the community that has raised me.
I am grateful to be a part of the KO Cancer team, and I am determined to do whatever I can to contribute to the team. I hope to raise awareness and inform the public about the various types of cancer and its health implications.
Annabelle Zhen - Writing Team
Hello!
Annabelle Zhen is a junior at Canton High School. The KO Cancer team interested her for many reasons, one of which being that her aunt has leukemia, and another being that she was born in June. It was an easy choice overall because of her interest in medicine, biology, and writing.
Vaneesha Natogi - Fundraising Team
Hi, I am Vaneesha Natogi!!! I am a sophomore student at Canton High School! I am part of the Fundraising Committee in KO cancer. I joined hoping to make a difference, as the medical world has always been part of my life and interests!! During my free time, I love baking, running, reading, and binge-watching!
Mallory Podzikowski - Fundraising Team
Hi! My name is Mallory Podzikowski. I am currently in my junior year at Plymouth High School. I am very passionate about medicine and the advancement of it. I am especially interested in Cancer, due to the fact that my mom is a Breast Cancer survivor.
Some things that I enjoy doing during my free time include writing, watching movies, and decorating my room. I hope to learn more about cancer and what scientists are currently working on to defeat it. Additionally, I hope to educate others along the way!