Board & Staff

My name is Ann Marie Holmes although most people call me Annie. I am a breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed in 2019 right after my 45th birthday. At first, I was in denial (which I hear is common). My treatment included a double mastectomy followed by reconstruction. Throughout my journey, I received little to no education about complementary care options such as nutrition, massage therapy, or acupuncture.

While the medical care I received was considered adequate, it was ultimately incomplete. I was never informed about how nutrition could support my recovery or help prevent future health challenges. I had to seek out that knowledge on my own.

What I learned changed me. It revealed a gap in the support available to patients and inspired a deep commitment to ensure others don’t face the same lack of guidance. As a result, I am pursuing my passion to establish Annie’s Breast Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free access to complementary services, education, and compassionate support for individuals navigating breast cancer.

I began my healthcare education in 1998 at the Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado and became a member of good standing with the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. Over the course of my career, I have developed specialized experience in lymphatic drainage, Swedish and deep tissue massage, neuromuscular therapy, myofascial release, stretching, range-of-motion work, and pain management techniques. These modalities allow my treatments to support relaxation, healing, and recovery helping to restore balance for my patients. As a patient myself, I realized the importance of human touch was critical for healing.  It was a sense of security and peace while going through my journey. 

In addition to foundational therapeutic skills, I incorporate advanced techniques including scar tissue mobilization, lymphatic cupping, advanced post-operative lymphatic drainage, rotator cuff dysfunction, assessment and treatment of neck and shoulder dysfunction related to tension, overuse, and chronic pain. 

Today, I bring my expertise and passion together through my hands-on therapeutic work to expand access to complementary care for individuals going through their own breast cancer journey.  My mission is to help make a difference in people’s lives through ABCF. 

Today, I am a survivor and enjoy traveling, our Denver Broncos, concerts of many varieties (especially country), hiking, and the great Rocky Mountains!

I have been practicing Acupuncture and treating patients for almost 30 years. I have treated many people for oncology issues including breast cancer. I was surprised that most people undergoing treatment were not told about the benefits of complementary medicine. I decided to start Annie’s Breast Cancer Foundation to help educate breast cancer patients on the benefits of acupuncture, massage, and nutrition during their treatments and recovery. 

My education includes a master’s in business from the University of Pepperdine, diplomat of Chinese medicine from the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, certified nutritional counselor from the American Association of Nutritional Consultants.

My Experience includes training in Beijing, Founder and Clinical Director of Whole Health Centers multi-modality healthcare clinics, founder and CEO of Health Naturally. Health Naturally makes plant based medicinal botanicals.

My goal is that Annie’s Breast Cancer Foundation will help people manage pain, anxiety, adhesions, scar tissue, emotional issues, sleep and other maladies related to cancer and the treatment of it.

I enjoy hiking, skiing, scuba diving, concerts, ball games and traveling.

Bill Cooper is one of our Board members. Bill is a 1975 graduate of the New Mexico Military Institute and a 1977 graduate of the University of Arizona, where he earned a commission as an officer in the United States Army, and a B.A. in Political Science, and a minor in economics, respectively. Bill is also a 1980 graduate of the Pepperdine University School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Texas and Colorado. 

In his career, Bill was a felony prosecutor, a civil trial lawyer who tried a wide variety of complex commercial litigation matters, as well as a transactional attorney who negotiated, drafted and managed high value procurement contracts in the telecommunications industry. Bill retired in 2020, and looks forward to providing his time and talents to Annie’s Breast Cancer Foundation. Bill also has a deep personal interest in this charity. His maternal grandmother died from breast cancer in 1973.