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WebMD Health Heroes

Meet Our 2012 Health Heroes

Each year, we celebrate visionary Americans who met a health challenge and gave back to others in an inspiring way.

To nominate your own Health Hero
for 2013, see below.

2012 Health Heroes

Robina Suwol

Robina Suwol

After a school maintenance worker accidently sprayed her son with pesticides, Suwol created a coalition to help the Los Angeles Unified School District adopt the strictest pesticide policy in the nation.

Bonnie Addario

Bonnie Addario

A survivor herself, Bonnie Addario decided to help others with lung cancer. First she established a foundation to raise money. Then she created the world's first bio-repository of lung cancer blood and tissue samples for researchers to study.

Bonnie Stehr

Bonnie Stehr

When this office worker decided to lose 50 pounds, she turned her goal into a contest for her entire community. The result? More than 200 people lost 1,700 pounds and raised more than $6,500 for a local charity.

Richard and Debra Siravo

Richard and Debra Siravo

The Siravos' five-year-old son, Matty, died of a massive seizure in 1993. Rather than succumb to grief or rage, the couple set up The Matty Fund, a nonprofit that provides resources to other Rhode Island families struggling with epilepsy.

WebMD's Gift

This year, WebMD awarded $2,500 to each Health Hero to be used for their foundation or project. Click on the tabs to find out how they plan to spend their prize.

Bonnie Addario

Bonnie Addario

"These funds will be used for research in the discovery of new molecular markers for lung cancer. Eventually researchers will be able to create new drugs that match those specific markers. I believe such 'personalized medicine' is the future of lung cancer treatment."

— Bonnie Addario

Nominate Your 2013 Health Hero Here!

For this year's winners, the editors of WebMD Magazine seek heart-lifting, true tales that both move and inspire us.

Who is a candidate? Patients, doctors, nurses, community leaders, and family members who met a medical diagnosis or condition with courage and then gave back to others in an inspiring way.

To nominate a hero, please submit his or her true story by July 15, 2013.

Nominate Someone You Know

Winners' Archive

© 2012 WebMD Magazine. All rights reserved.

WebMD Magazine

WebMD Magazine

Each year, WebMD's Health Heroes are announced in the pages of the November/December issue of WebMD Magazine.

Want to Nominate a Health Hero?

The editors of WebMD Magazine seek heart-lifting, true stories about people who met a medical diagnosis or situation with courage and helped give back to others in an inspiring way. Nominate someone you know for our 2013 awards!