OUR BOARD

LADY OCEAN

Aakash Padodara

KEON MANESH

22 years old music producer and songwriter who has amassed millions of streams with her music. She founded the Lady Ocean foundation after she was originally diagnosed at age 19 with an extremely rare tumor of what originally posed as a malignant sarcoma, but proved to be extremely rare and different than any case seen before.

KEON MANESH

Aakash Padodara

KEON MANESH

25 years old graduate of Drexel University and Johns Hopkins Masters Program who has worked at Supertooth for the past 7 years. He is now Vice President of marketing, patient affairs, and operations. As the older brother of Lady Ocean, he has had first hand experience in having someone close to him affected, thus making him motivated about our mission to help more people like his sister. He is now helping with raising awareness and financial resources within individuals, other foundations, and corporations.

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Aakash Padodara

24 years old, current third-year medical student at Drexel College of Medicine. During his time at Drexel he has been awarded the Drexel College of Medicine Frontier Population Health Challenge as well as worked in a student run organization who provides smoking cessation meetings for those living in shelters.

Kourosh Kalachi

25 years old, current third year medical student at University of Maryland School of Medicine. Served as a positive role model for third grade students of Baltimore City Public Schools in the Gifted and Advanced Learning (GAL) science mentorship program. Extensively involved in ear, nose, throat (ENT) research and Vice President of the ENT interest group. I am passionate about mentoring individuals and learning from others in a caring manner. I hope to extend my experiences in mentoring and leadership to members of the Lady Ocean Foundation in order to make a difference in the lives of those so deeply affected by cancer.

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MOMNIAH MIRZA

Kourosh Kalachi

20 years old current student at the University of Maryland. Majoring in Criminal justice with a minor in law and society, she has spent a few years as a preschool teacher and now is working at a hospital in DC in Audiology with newborns hearing.

"Caring for others is a central part of who I am. I've always had a passion for helping people

"Caring for others is a central part of who I am. I've always had a passion for helping people, especially children and giving them the head start they need in life.

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Ananiya Gupta

Kourosh Kalachi

Ananiya Gupta

25 years old and currently Brand Manager at RB. Growing up and living in different countries, he has developed resilience, ability to adapt and a well rounded world view. Though - having lived in different cities at an early age, with and without his family, he has experienced the challenges that come with different circumstances and sit

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OUR DRIVE

Lady Ocean

Always wanted to help and connect others was the main reason behind why she began making music. Even as a high schooler before she was diagnosed, she volunteered for iCARE which is the International Cancer Alliance for Research and Education (iCARE) in which she worked with other high school students to organize fundraisers for the nonprofit foundation and its research. Since she herself has been in and out of the hospital for the past three years for treatment of chemotherapy and radiation, she has first hand experience. As a big part of her dream for founding the Lady Ocean Foundation she wanted to create a safe healing space of emotional, mental and physical health for patients her age.

Keon Manesh

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Mominah Mirza

"I've seen cancer up close, as I lost both my grandparents to it. Now, one of my best friend Darya, has been battling it for years now. Seeing the struggle and pain they all have endured has nurtured the compassionate qualities in me and made me especially passionate about this project where we can help those in need of support during this difficult time.Darya was going through chemo around Christmas time a few years ago. Not being able to see her for the longest time while she was going through such life changing events was difficult. I knew that the least I could do was to provide her with emotional support, even if our only form of communication was through texts, phone calls or even sending gift baskets, any amount of support and caring can make an impact. That’s the support and care I would like to keep moving forward for her and everyone going through a similar hardship alike. Even little things make a big difference. Helping others is my passion and realizing you can use compassion to support others journeys is the reason I feel so strongly about my role in this organization. My experience with all my loved ones who have gone through this has shaped my desire to support people who face challenges and to seek those who need my help."

Aakash Padodara

"I joined the Lady Ocean Foundation to help create an environment for young adults to share their story and find support during such a difficult time. This organization gives me an opportunity to get involved with a part of patients care that I would not traditionally be a part as a future physician. During this time, I will work to be an advocate for these individuals to help fill in the emotional and mental support that hospitals can’t provide. I will make each member feel welcome and supported through their own unique recovery process. During a difficult time, I want to be there to remind each member their diagnosis does not define who they are. Although a part of their life, these illnesses will only be a small part of who these individuals will grow up to be in the future. The Lady Ocean Foundation gives me another chance to serve as a part of the community for young adults who may have difficulty connecting with other organizations."