About Ezra Marfo

Jacob is Ezra’s dad and he started stem cell drives while his son was alive and continue to do so. Jacob has a PhD in Forest Sciences (Plant Physiology) from Lakehead University and Certificate in Business Administration from McMaster University, Ontario Canada. He works with the municipal government in Lac La Biche as the Agricultural Supervisor. For the one year, three months and eighteen days he spent in hospitals caring for his son Ezra, Jacob learned more about the importance of stem cells and the need to have more and diversified people on the registry. Jacob started this foundation to honour the legacy of his son, Ezra.

Cornelius is currently a Business Optimization Director with Emterra Group, a leading Environmental product company in North America. Cornelius started with Emterra in 2018, joining the company as a Senior Operations Manager for the Region of Peel. He was promoted to the District Operations Manager in Ontario, he was directly responsible for large municipal collection contracts including the Region of Peel and the Region of Niagara, where he oversaw over 180 collection trucks and 250 personnel. He was promoted to his current role in 2020.
As the former District Manager for Waste Management of Canada, Cornelius was responsible for the Region of Peel residential contract from 2007 to 2015, with a fleet of approximately 160 trucks.
Cornelius has a BA in Psychology and a Certificate in Business Management. Cornelius also serves as an Elder of the Church of Pentecost in Mississauga. Formerly a Youth Leader at the Church, he has significant experience in community engagement and event organization. He has almost two decades of experience in youth leadership positions. He brings an operational leadership in executing programs and activities and is a key asset for the Foundation. His hobbies include doing home renovation projects. Cornelius is married and has two young boys.

Kate Nartey is a Licensed Nurse with over 5 years of experience working with geriatric population. Kate received her BSc Nursing education from Ryerson University, Ontario, Canada.

She has spent her life using her personal and career experiences to help facilitate patient centre care for her clients and provide them with the support they need when their life seems to be more than they can handle.

A strong believer in the power of positive thinking in the workplace, Kate regularly supervises and coaches’ nurses in their leadership roles with the purpose of helping them bring out the best in them. She helps patients and their families navigate through Conjugated Living Facility System.

While her focus is on Geriatric care, she also provides volunteer services to children and families on her personal time. She also leads her Church’s Children’s Ministry. Developing strong relationships is the foundation of everything she does, both professionally and personally. Outside of work, Kate enjoys spending quality time with friends and family.

I am a former Canadian Football League Athlete, with a degree in Social Work. I had the honor and privilege of meeting the Marfo family while they were in the Alberta Children’s Hospital awaiting a stem cell match for Ezra. My son, Tyson was diagnosed with AML in December of 2021 at 12 weeks old. Upon receiving his diagnosis his doctors informed us that a stem cell donation would provide him the best chance at survival. Stem cell donation was not well known to my wife and I at the time, but we were told Tyson had a high probability of finding a match due to being of European descent. While I am thankful my son was able to find a match, it hurts me to know that not every child or person has the same likelihood of finding a match due to being of a different ethnic background. Jacob has done, and will continue to do, an incredible job of spreading awareness about the need for stem cell donors from all backgrounds, to help bring life saving matches to more people awaiting their miracle. I am honoured to be a part of the Ezra Marfo Cancer Foundation (EMCF) and to do my small part in raising awareness and bringing hope to more children and their families.

Agnes holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brock University. She is a Paralegal licensed by the Law Society of Ontario, and founder of Mitzvah 613 Legal Services and K-A Dispute Services. Agnes’ 20 plus years of distinguished Military career has helped her attain vast experience in policy and legislative development. She has a profound and a deep understanding of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as well as Gender Based Analysis Plus. Agnes is a people person and sits on different boards, where her vast experience comes in handy. Agnes also volunteered for the Swab4Ezra stem drive in Ottawa.

Jennifer is a Registered Oncology Nurse with the Ottawa Hospital. She has 11 years of experience working within this setting, specifically working with patients with all types of hematological cancers and auto-immune disorders such as AML, ALL, MDS, multiple myeloma, Multiple Sclerosis. Her passion for nursing emerged from watching her grandmother live with the adverse effects of a stroke for over 20 years. Caring for oncology patients is her passion.