On January 1, 2025, eight cancer and diabetes survivors will ride float 51, representing City of Hope—one of the nation's leading cancer research and treatment organizations—during the Rose Parade.
The two of the eight survivors, Juliette Landgrave, 41, from Mission Viejo, California, and José Santos, 40, from Chicago, Illinois, also happen to be Latino. Landgrave and Santos will be joined by doctors and other survivors from City of Hope's locations in Los Angeles, Orange County, Atlanta, Chicago, and Phoenix. Together, they highlight one of the largest advanced cancer networks in the U.S., combining cutting-edge biomedical research with clinical expertise to improve equitable access to care for this terrible disease.
A celebration of survival
City of Hope's float, titled "A Beautiful Day of Hope", will showcase two majestic peacocks surrounding the Spirit of Life sculpture and a fountain, symbolizing resilience and unity. Inspirational words like "hope," "compassion," "innovation," and "inclusion" will surround the display, celebrating survival stories.
The two Latino survivors
41-year-old California native Juliette Landgrave survived triple-negative breast cancer—an aggressive form that spreads rapidly. "I'm going to be the poster child for surviving triple-negative breast cancer. I'm going to beat the odds," Landgrave said. Treated at the Lennar Foundation Cancer Center in Orange County, she credits City of Hope for saving her life. "This journey showed me how to advocate for myself. I really needed doctors who were able to be there for me," she said.
40-year-old Chicago native José Santos is a software engineer who overcame stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2022. Since he was in his twenties had been suffering from ulcerative colitis (UC), an autoimmune disease that affects the stomach. UC also increases the likelihood of developing colorectal cancer.
Dr. Laura Farrington, an oncologist at City of Hope's Chicago center, recalled his transformation: "He was thin, emaciated and in a wheelchair. From this skinny kid to this robust man. He got through the treatment and now has a better quality of life than ever before."
After receiving chemotherapy and the removal of his colon, he no longer suffers from UC. "Cancer was my blessing in disguise. It cured me of my UC," Santos added.
Ranked among the top five comprehensive cancer centers in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report, City of Hope also houses a leading diabetes research center.
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