Most people who survive a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis count their blessings quietly. Sabrina Wright-Hobart counted hers loudly — in legislative hearing rooms, in congressional offices, and in monthly volunteer meetings where she keeps a team of Colorado advocates motivated and moving.
As the Colorado state lead ambassador for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Wright-Hobart has spent more than a decade turning her personal experience into public policy. She organizes Cancer Action Day at the Colorado State Capitol, leads Colorado advocates on trips to Washington, D.C., and meets directly with lawmakers on issues ranging from access to care to funding for cancer research. All of it is volunteer work — done entirely on her own time.
Wright-Hobart was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006. Fourteen years later, in 2020, it came back — this time spreading to her spine and reaching Stage 4. She is now cancer-free from that diagnosis. That arc — diagnosis, survival, recurrence, survival again — is the fuel behind everything she does.
One of the legislative efforts she championed involved multi-cancer early detection. She led a team of Colorado volunteers to Washington to meet with lawmakers about the measure, and later celebrated at the governor's mansion for the bill signing. Early detection, she has said, means better outcomes — and she wants that for every person who comes after her.
How Well Do You Know Sabrina's Story?
Five questions about the advocate, the work, and the policy she helped change.
Sabrina Wright-Hobart volunteers with ACS CAN as Colorado's state lead ambassador. What does ACS CAN stand for?
- American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network — Correct. ACS CAN is the advocacy arm of the American Cancer Society — it focuses on policy change rather than direct patient services, working at both state and federal levels.
- American Community Services Cancer Awareness Network — Not quite. ACS CAN stands for American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network — it channels survivor stories directly into legislative advocacy at places like the Colorado State Capitol and Congress.
- Advocates for Cancer Survivors, Colorado and National — Close in spirit, but the actual name is American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. The group organizes Cancer Action Day at the Colorado State Capitol every year.
- Alliance for Cancer Care and Nutrition — That's not it. ACS CAN — American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network — focuses on policy: funding for research, access to care, and early detection legislation.
When Wright-Hobart's cancer returned in 2020, what made it clinically more serious than her 2006 diagnosis?
- It had spread to her spine, making it Stage 4 — Correct. The 2020 recurrence had spread to her spine — elevating it to Stage 4. She is now cancer-free from that diagnosis, which is a direct testament to the kind of research advances she advocates for.
- It required more aggressive chemotherapy than before — The article doesn't describe the treatment path — what it specifically notes is that the cancer spread to her spine in 2020, making it Stage 4. That staging is what defines the clinical severity.
- It was detected later, giving doctors fewer options — Actually, early detection is exactly what Wright-Hobart now advocates for — she has said earlier diagnoses lead to better outcomes. The 2020 recurrence's defining fact was its spread to her spine at Stage 4.
- It affected a different organ than the original diagnosis — The key clinical fact is that the cancer spread to her spine, reaching Stage 4 — not simply a different site. The stage is what marks the severity of the 2020 recurrence.
Beyond cancer advocacy, where does Wright-Hobart work in her day job?
- The Ember Center, which serves survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault — Correct. The Ember Center — formerly the Crisis Center — provides free, confidential, trauma-informed services to people who have experienced intimate partner violence or sexual assault. Her entire advocacy career is volunteer work done outside this role.
- A Denver hospital oncology outreach program — Her advocacy work might suggest a hospital connection, but Wright-Hobart's day job is at the Ember Center — formerly the Crisis Center — which supports survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault.
- ACS CAN's Colorado regional office — ACS CAN is entirely volunteer work for Wright-Hobart — she receives no pay for it. Her employment is at the Ember Center, formerly the Crisis Center, serving survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault.
- A Colorado state public health department — Her day job is at the Ember Center — formerly the Crisis Center — which provides free, confidential, trauma-informed services to survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault in Denver.
What specific piece of legislation did Wright-Hobart lead Colorado volunteers to Washington to advocate for?
- Multi-cancer early detection legislation — Correct. Wright-Hobart led a team of Colorado volunteers to Washington to push for multi-cancer early detection legislation — and later celebrated its passage at the governor's mansion bill signing. Early detection, she has said, means better outcomes.
- Expanded Medicaid coverage for Stage 4 patients — The legislation specifically highlighted in the article was multi-cancer early detection — a measure Wright-Hobart championed and later celebrated at the governor's mansion when it was signed into law.
- Federal funding increases for cancer research centers — Increased research funding is part of the broader ACS CAN platform, but the specific legislation Wright-Hobart is highlighted for leading Colorado volunteers to advocate for was multi-cancer early detection.
- A cap on out-of-pocket costs for cancer treatment — The bill specifically named in the article is multi-cancer early detection legislation — Wright-Hobart led Colorado volunteers to Washington for it and attended the governor's mansion signing.
Mark Anderson of ACS CAN described Wright-Hobart's personal advocacy style with a specific phrase. What was it?
- A quiet determination — Correct. Anderson, vice president of regional advocacy for ACS CAN, described Wright-Hobart's style as 'a quiet determination' — noting that some of this work is really hard and emotional, and that she carries it with resolve rather than fanfare.
- Fearless leadership — That phrase was used by Chinelo Tyler, Colorado grassroots manager for ACS CAN, who called Wright-Hobart 'our fearless leader.' Mark Anderson specifically described her style as 'a quiet determination.'
- Relentless compassion — Anderson's specific phrase was 'a quiet determination' — he noted the work is really hard and emotional, and that Wright-Hobart carries it with steady resolve rather than visible fanfare.
- Tireless commitment — Anderson's exact description was 'a quiet determination' — a phrase that captures how Wright-Hobart approaches work that is, as he noted, really hard and emotional.
Advocacy work like Wright-Hobart's is measured in years, not news cycles. Chinelo Tyler, Colorado grassroots manager for ACS CAN, has watched her show up — month after month, year after year — for more than a decade. 'Policy is a long game,' Tyler has said. 'It takes people who are willing to be there for the long haul, and she's somebody who's always been there.'
That kind of long-game commitment is exactly what Mark Anderson, vice president of regional advocacy for ACS CAN, says makes a difference in legislative outcomes. Personal stories from constituents — from voters — carry weight in congressional offices in a way that no lobbying firm can replicate. Wright-Hobart brings both: the constituent voice and the decade of experience.
Denver7 surprised Wright-Hobart with the Everyday Hero award at the Fork Cancer fundraiser in Denver, surrounded by fellow survivors, advocates, and supporters. Her response was characteristic: 'I'm not doing this to get recognition. I just do it because I love helping other people. Cancer research funding is so important. I'm only alive today because of advances in cancer research.'
That last sentence carries the full weight of her decade of work. Sabrina Wright-Hobart is not advocating for an abstract policy. She is advocating for the research that kept her alive — and for every Colorado family that comes after her who deserves the same chance.
Get Involved With ACS CAN in Colorado
- American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network: The Colorado chapter organizes Cancer Action Day at the State Capitol and leads volunteer advocates to Washington, D.C. to meet with lawmakers on cancer policy.
- Nominate a Denver7 Everyday Hero: Denver7 features a different Everyday Hero each week. Know someone doing extraordinary volunteer work in Colorado? Nominate them through Denver7.
- Ember Center: Formerly the Crisis Center, the Ember Center provides free, confidential, trauma-informed services to people in Denver who have experienced intimate partner violence or sexual assault.