Vivien Ariola has participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event many times throughout the past 10 years. Among the activities at the event is the evening Luminaria ceremony, in which all participants stand together in silence among a sea of candles, each one of the flickering lights representing someone who has been impacted by the disease.

For Ariola, a customer care associate at Prime Therapeutics (Prime), the ceremony hits home. As a cancer survivor, she finds the ceremonies to be a moment of reflection. 

When she was in her 30s, Ariola was diagnosed with stage 2 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It first presented as a small bump on her neck and eventually progressed to the size of a grapefruit. After eight months of chemotherapy, she entered remission and has been cancer free ever since. To this day, she feels lucky to be alive. 

“I feel like I got a second chance at life,” Ariola said. “While I’m here, I want to make the best of it and do what I can to contribute to my community.”

While she had cancer, she utilized many of the American Cancer Society’s resources. Because the organization was there for her in a time of need, she wanted to find a way to pay it forward.

These days, she participates in as many events as she can and was an event committee chairperson for several years. She encourages fellow employees to get involved with an organization during Prime’s Week of Service — which encourages employees to support charity partners, many of which address major health care conditions that Prime helps its customers manage — and beyond. 

“I encourage everyone to find something that they feel makes an impact,” she said. “Volunteering is about helping and supporting each other. You never know — you may be in a position someday where you need help, so it’s important to give back while you are able.”

The American Cancer Society is one of Prime’s five strategic charity partners. The organization works to ensure everyone has an opportunity to detect, treat and survive cancer. In 2023, Prime raised $46,527 for the American Cancer Society.  

Learn more about how Prime gives back in the company’s most recent Corporate Social Responsibility report.