How do you find hope when you’re told you have only an 8% chance to live?
For Ivelisse Page, that daunting prognosis became the start of a new mission.
At age 37, Ivelisse was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer – the same disease that had taken her father and grandmother. Instead of accepting defeat, she pursued an unconventional path, combining surgery with natural treatments like mistletoe therapy and prayer. Miraculously, Ivelisse beat the odds and has remained cancer-free since 2008.
Drawing on her survival journey, she and her husband Jimmy Page co-founded Believe Big in 2011 to share that hope with others.
Each month, Full Sail Media showcases local changemakers who strengthen our communities and inspire us all. This month, we are proud to shine a spotlight on Believe Big as our Changemaker feature.
Based in Hunt Valley, Maryland, Believe Big is a nonprofit that’s bridging the gap between conventional oncology and complementary medicine, ensuring that integrative cancer therapies – from nutrition to mistletoe – are accessible to every patient who needs them. Through storytelling and science, faith and innovation, Believe Big is transforming how people face, fight, and overcome cancer.
Where Faith Meets Science in the Fight Against Cancer
Believe Big began with a simple act of encouragement. In the Johns Hopkins clinic waiting room, Ivelisse started handing out hand-painted mugs emblazoned with a single word: “BELIEVE.”
These humble “Believe Mugs” – given freely to fellow patients – carried a powerful message of faith, courage, and community support.
What started as one survivor’s gesture of compassion has grown into a nationwide movement bringing hope to thousands. “My passion for what I do each day is because I don’t want anyone else to lose their mom, dad, brother, or sister,” Ivelisse says. “I want people to know there are complementary things out there to help fight cancer and to bridge the gap between conventional medicine and other treatments.”
From the beginning, Believe Big’s philosophy has been to combine rigorous science with spiritual care. The organization helps patients navigate the overwhelming maze of cancer treatment by pairing cutting-edge integrative therapies with emotional and spiritual support. In the words of their vision statement, they exist “to see cancer patients and their families discover their pathway to healing” – whatever form that path may take for each individual.
Believe Big’s services are open to all cancer types and all age groups. Whether a child facing leukemia or an adult fighting breast cancer, the organization’s resources are designed to support anyone impacted by cancer, treating each person as unique and deserving of tailored care.
Since 2011, Believe Big has helped thousands of patients not only survive but truly thrive – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In 2022 alone, their programs reached over 400,000 individuals, and they aim to assist 1 million patients in the next two years through their comprehensive approach. It’s a warm, inviting community rooted in faith yet welcoming of all backgrounds, united by the belief that with hope and holistic care, no one has to fight cancer alone.
Making Integrative Therapies Accessible to All
A cornerstone of Believe Big’s mission is to make integrative oncology treatments – like mistletoe therapy – available to anyone, regardless of income or where they live. In fact, Believe Big spearheaded the first clinical trial in the United States to study intravenous mistletoe extract as a cancer therapy.
Partnering with researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the nonprofit raised over $400,000 to launch a Phase I trial in 2015. The results, published in early 2023, showed that mistletoe treatment is safe and associated with improved quality of life for patients – a monumental milestone that Believe Big’s supporters helped make possible.
“We are at a monumental time in history that will be forever marked by the teamwork and belief by the team at Johns Hopkins, Believe Big supporters and the hand of God,” Ivelisse says of this achievement. “I know how well mistletoe worked for me, and my hope is that it becomes available to all patients.”
Community of Support: Believe Mugs and Beyond
Beyond the medical interventions, what sets Believe Big apart is its heart for community and emotional support. Cancer takes a toll not only on the body, but on the spirit, and Believe Big tackles this challenge with creativity and love.
One example is the Believe Mug Program, which has become a signature of the organization. Every Believe Mug is hand-painted by volunteers – often children, students, church groups, or corporate teams – and decorated with inspiring designs and the word “BELIEVE” in bold letters. Inside each mug, the team includes an encouraging message and the “I Will Have No Fear” prayer for the recipient.. These mugs are then packaged and delivered to local hospitals, infusion centers, and individual patients all over the community.
In addition to the mug program, Believe Big offers a variety of emotional and spiritual support resources. They host monthly support group meetings (both in-person and virtual) where patients and caregivers can share, pray, and learn from each other. They provide one-on-one connection to Patient Advocates who can mentor and guide those newly diagnosed.
Through their “I Have Cancer, Now What?” video series and podcast, the organization educates families on navigating everything from treatment decisions to nutrition and emotional wellness. There’s even a network of volunteer prayer partners and a “Soul Care” program to address the spiritual side of healing.
All of these offerings reinforce a core belief of the organization: beating cancer isn’t just about eradicating tumors, it’s about healing the whole person and fostering hope at every step. By building a supportive community around patients, Believe Big ensures that no one has to walk the cancer journey in isolation.
How You Can Support Believe Big
Want to be part of this hopeful movement that’s changing lives? Here are a few ways you can get involved and support Believe Big’s mission:
- Ways to Give: With 85 cents of every dollar going to patient programs and services, donations to Believe Big are an investment in innovative, accessible cancer care. You can find various ways to give here, including donations, corporate partnerships, in-kind gifts, and more.
- Participate in the Believe Mug Initiative: Rally your friends, school, church, or coworkers and host a Believe Mug painting event. It’s a fun, hands-on way to encourage patients battling cancer. Simply grab a pottery kit or visit a partner studio to paint mugs with uplifting designs and the word “BELIEVE”. Believe Big will handle firing and delivery to patients. Whether you paint one mug or 100, you’ll be spreading hope one cup at a time.
- Volunteer or Attend an Event (Mid-Atlantic Region and Beyond): Lend your time and talents by volunteering with Believe Big or attending one of their events. The organization hosts workshops, educational seminars, and fundraisers throughout the year – from nutrition webinars and an annual Believe Big fundraising dinner to community outreach days like their Founders Day and Harvesting Hope events. Many activities take place in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region, where Believe Big was born, but there are also virtual events and ways to help from anywhere. You could assist with assembling care packages, join the prayer team, or simply show up at a local event to learn and lend support. Every extra set of hands and hearts moves the mission forward.
At Full Sail Media, we’re honored to highlight Believe Big as part of our Changemakers initiative. Their compassionate, forward-thinking approach demonstrates that when we integrate the best of science, nature, faith, and community, we empower patients to achieve better outcomes and hope in the face of fear.
Believe Big’s work ensures that families across the nation have access to life-giving resources, regardless of income or diagnosis – strengthening our entire community in the process. Because, as Believe Big’s very name reminds us: sometimes you just have to believe big – face it, fight it, and overcome it together. Baltimore thrive. Now, they’re celebrating with a special fundraising challenge, and they want you to be part of it.
