1199ers: Where are they now?

Rene was featured in our 2024 Members’ Voices calendar. In her video (featured in May), she told us how team sports have always been important—keeping her body strong and fit—even while she was pregnant. Her daughter, Zoe, is now turning 4, and Rene keeps her moving, too, often joining in on the fun right alongside her. “She is so cute in her tutu,” Rene said. “And it’s great to be able to bond while we stay active together.”

Russell was featured in the Winter 2022 issue of this magazine. He also appeared in our Members’ Voices video series. Russell is a prostate cancer survivor, who shared the story of his journey to overcome the cancer both physically and mentally. Since then, he’s been a strong advocate of the value of screening and educating others. He even appeared on a co-worker’s podcast. “I was nervous, but it was worth it, knowing the impact I can have discussing the importance of getting checked out,” he said. “So many men just do not think about it. Knowing I can make a difference is a wonderful feeling.”

Victoria was featured with her husband, Noel, in our 2022 calendar. Victoria is a breast cancer survivor, who shared that her healthy living motivation is spending as much time as she can with her daughter, Amaris. So, she makes sure she’s tested on a regular basis. “I’m a strong believer in the importance of screening. They caught my condition early, in stage 1,” she said. “If I wasn’t tested, I wouldn’t have known I had breast cancer.” With her 1199SEIU health benefits, Victoria was able to get the treatment she needed, and she sees her medical team on a regular basis. “I just came back from a checkup in fact,” she said. “And I got good news—my doctor said I’m doing great!”