On any given morning in Victoria Park, before the Florida sun fully stretches across the sky, Andrea Eidelman is already in motion. Sometimes that motion is literal — gliding across the ice as a gold-level adult skater and dedicated ice dancer. Other times, it is the steady, purposeful movement of a life built around advocacy, service, and an unwavering commitment to helping others navigate some of life’s most difficult moments.

Andrea Eidelman’s story is one of evolution — of a legal career rooted in protecting the vulnerable that has grown into a deeply personal mission to reshape how people experience a cancer diagnosis. With more than 20 years of professional experience in the nonprofit sector, she has spent her life at the intersection of compassion and action. Today, as the co-founder of Global Leadership in Oncology and Wellness (GLOW), she is channeling that experience into a new kind of cancer advocacy — one built on collaboration, accessibility, and human connection.

“I’ve always been drawn to helping people who need a voice,” Andrea says. “That’s been the thread through everything I’ve done.”

That thread began early. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Andrea immigrated to Miami when she was just one year old. Growing up in South Florida, she developed a deep sense of community and belonging — values that would later shape both her career and her personal life. She attended the University of Miami, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Sociology, a combination that reflects her enduring interest in understanding people and the systems that affect them. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University School of Law, setting the stage for a career in public service.

Her early professional years were spent at Broward Legal Aid, where she represented children who had been abused, abandoned, or neglected. It was challenging, emotionally demanding work — but it was also profoundly meaningful.

“You see the system up close,” she reflects. “You see where it works and where it doesn’t. And you realize how important it is to advocate for people who don’t have the resources or the knowledge to advocate for themselves.”

After more than a decade in legal advocacy, Andrea transitioned into nonprofit management, focusing on cancer advocacy organizations. The shift was not a departure from her mission, but rather an expansion of it. Cancer, she came to understand, presents its own kind of vulnerability — not just medically, but emotionally, financially, and socially.

Over time, she noticed a troubling pattern: patients and caregivers often felt overwhelmed, isolated, and unsure of where to turn. Resources existed, but they were fragmented. Support systems were available, but not always accessible. The experience of navigating cancer could feel like piecing together a puzzle without a clear picture.

That realization planted the seed for what would eventually become GLOW.

Andrea’s partner in both life and mission is her husband, Dr. Frank Eidelman. An allergist-immunologist at Cleveland Clinic, Weston, with an MBA and a longstanding career in healthcare, Frank shares Andrea’s passion for philanthropy and patient advocacy. A longtime board member of the American Lung Association, he has spent more than a decade supporting initiatives that improve patient outcomes and expand access to care.

The two met in 2012 and married in 2014, the same year they chose to make Victoria Park their home. Since then, they have built not only a life together, but a shared vision for how to make a difference.

Last November, that vision became reality.

GLOW — Global Leadership in Oncology and Wellness — is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Andrea and Frank to address the gaps they saw in the cancer community. Unlike many organizations that focus on a single type of cancer, GLOW takes a pan-cancer approach, recognizing that many challenges — treatment decisions, mental health struggles, caregiver stress, and access to care — transcend specific diagnoses.

“We didn’t want to duplicate what already exists,” Andrea explains. “We wanted to connect it. To make it easier for people to find what they need, when they need it.”

At its core, GLOW is about navigation — helping patients and caregivers move through the complex and often overwhelming journey of a cancer diagnosis. The organization provides education on the latest treatments, guidance on understanding medical options, and support for the emotional and psychological toll that cancer can take. It also works to address health disparities, advocating for a system where every patient, regardless of background, has access to quality care.

A key part of GLOW’s model is collaboration. Rather than operating in isolation, the organization partners with established national groups such as Cancer Care, Immerman Angels, Smart Patients, and Triage Cancer. These partnerships allow GLOW to extend its reach while ensuring that patients benefit from trusted, high-quality resources.

“We believe in working together,” Andrea says. “There’s so much expertise out there. By collaborating, we can amplify impact and avoid reinventing the wheel.”

The organization is still in its early stages, but its ambitions are expansive. Based in Victoria Park, GLOW is already planning local events with hospitals, educational workshops for patients and caregivers, and community fundraisers to support its mission. Andrea and Frank have personally funded the organization’s launch, driven by their belief in its importance and urgency.

“We started this out of our own pockets because we saw the need,” Andrea says. “Cancer touches everyone. And no one should have to go through it alone.”

That sense of community is central to everything Andrea does. Whether she’s organizing an event, connecting with a patient, or simply taking an evening stroll down Las Olas with Frank, she is deeply rooted in the idea that relationships matter — that support, understanding, and shared experience can make even the hardest journeys more manageable.

At home, that sense of warmth extends to their 14-year-old Turkish Angora cat, Toby, a quiet but constant presence in their lives. The couple also maintains close ties to family, traveling frequently to Montreal to spend holidays with extended relatives.

Despite the demands of her work, Andrea makes time for her passions. A dedicated figure skater and member of the Panthers Figure Skating Club, she trains five to six days a week. She was also one of the first members of the rink in Victoria Park, further underscoring her commitment to building community spaces.

“Ice skating is my outlet,” Andrea says. “It’s where I can clear my mind and just be present.”

That balance — between intensity and reflection, advocacy and personal joy — is part of what sustains her. It also informs her approach to GLOW, which places a strong emphasis on mental health and emotional well-being alongside medical education.

Andrea is quick to point out that while innovation in treatment is critical, prevention and early detection remain some of the most powerful tools in the fight against cancer. She speaks passionately about the importance of regular screenings, knowing one’s family history, and staying proactive about health.

“Please don’t skip your mammograms or colonoscopies,” Andrea urges. “Screening matters. Early detection can save your life.”

It’s a simple message, but one that carries weight — especially coming from someone who has seen firsthand the impact of delayed diagnoses and limited access to care.

Looking ahead, Andrea envisions GLOW becoming a trusted resource not just locally, but nationally and even internationally. She wants the organization to be a place where patients and caregivers can find clarity, support, and hope — no matter where they are in their journey.

“We want to make the experience less overwhelming,” she says. “To give people the tools and the confidence to navigate what comes next.”

For Andrea Eidelman, that mission is not just professional — it is deeply personal. It is the culmination of decades of advocacy, a partnership built on shared values, and a belief that even in the face of something as daunting as cancer, there is always room for light.

And in that light, there is possibility.

GLOW also offers an ongoing TikTok cancer educational series twice a month, featuring Carissa Hocevar, a two-time stage IV stomach cancer survivor, and Kelsea Lozada, a clinical trials educator from IQVIA. To learn more, please visit glow-oncology.org.