Breast cancer survivors and supporters jammed the pink-decorated College of Central Florida campus early Saturday for the 2014 American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K.
It was a rally for members and supporters of 128 teams working since August to raise funds and awareness in the local ACS Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign.
Event chair Michelle Stone said about $20,000 was turned in by teams Saturday, which will be added to about $67,000 raised to date. Additionally, approximately $34,000 is expected from corporate sponsors.
"We want to thank our teams and volunteers. We're hopeful and have momentum going to make up any shortfall," Stone said.
This year's campaign goal is $160,000, according to ACS event specialist Jessica Clayton. The campaign raised about $153,000 last year.
The walk was a victory lap for many breast cancer survivors like Teresa Mullins and Melisa Vealey.
"Woo-hoo," shouted Mullins and Vealey as they threw up their arms and passed under the finish line, an archway of pink balloons.
Both have been cancer-free for three years.
Mullins, 50, and Vealey met at Robert Boissoneault Oncology Institute about three years ago when they shared a similar treatment schedule.
"I had a distorted shadow in a mammogram and then had a needle biopsy when I was diagnosed," Vealey recalled. "I went to see a high school friend and eventually told her and we both cried. I called my aunt, who is a cancer survivor. I wanted to live to see the birth of my grandson David Monell III. He's 2½ now."
Mullins said her breast cancer was self-detected rather than through a mammogram.
"I just knew I had it. It was sort of a relief (to know) because my father, Larry Poock, passed away from colon cancer at age 33 when I was 5. I'm sure the research for his treatment helped me," Mullins said.
Clayton said people can call the American Cancer Society's National Cancer Information Center 24 hours a day at 800-227-2345 or go to www.cancer.org for support and information.
Locally, the organization can help breast and cancer patients with information and items including wigs and scarves, hats and bras, Clayton said.
CF students Heather Couch, 26; Heath Hammar, 26; Kendra Kirby, 18; Michael Battisti, 20; Gregory Freeman, 45; and Stephen Michaelides, 30, all in law enforcement-related courses at CF, wore tags in support of Sangi Blair, 52, wife of Marion County Sheriff Chris Blair, a breast cancer survivor who underwent a double mastectomy 14 years ago when her daughter Alesa, now 22, was 8.
Sangi, on the CF law enforcement program faculty, walked the 5K with her husband.
"I finished first," Sangi joked.
Sangi and Alesa are 2014 Making Strides committee members, and Sangi is a former chair for the organization.
Family friend Suzanne Moore called Sangi "her hero."
Sheriff Blair said 14 years ago he was concerned he "might be raising an 8-year-old daughter by myself."
The combined effort of the Marion County Sheriff's Office; the Ocala, Dunnellon and Belleview police departments; Ocala Fire Rescue, Marion County Fire Rescue, Florida Highway Patrol, Marion County Public Safety Communication, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Department of Corrections were the top contributor to this year's campaign, with more than $14,000 raised for the campaign, according to Making Strides of Ocala.
The Making Strides of Ocala website indicates Baseline's Best Friends at $7,400 and Say Ta Ta Forever to Breast Cancer at $5,300 are the second- and third-place teams, while the top companies are Florida Cancer Specialists at $1,275, Marion County Clerk of the Circuit Court at $1,040 and Reel Feisty and Reel Fighter at $670.
Top individual participants indicated are Claire Wilder with $5,000 raised, Judith Poisson at $2,838 and Robin Arnold with $2,338.
Vashti Nugent, a five- year survivor of stage four breast cancer who underwent radiation, chemotherapy and a double mastectomy, was joined by friends in celebrating "Victory for Vashti." Nugent is employed at Ocala Plastic Surgery. Dr. Jim Rogers with the same office did her breast reconstruction and celebrated with the group.
Maggie Lewis, a 26- year cancer survivor, was joined at the event by her daughter Natasha Oliver.
"It was a nice event today with a beautiful atmosphere. It was a cool morning but a warm environment," Oliver said.
It was a rally for members and supporters of 128 teams working since August to raise funds and awareness in the local ACS Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign.
Event chair Michelle Stone said about $20,000 was turned in by teams Saturday, which will be added to about $67,000 raised to date. Additionally, approximately $34,000 is expected from corporate sponsors.
"We want to thank our teams and volunteers. We're hopeful and have momentum going to make up any shortfall," Stone said.
This year's campaign goal is $160,000, according to ACS event specialist Jessica Clayton. The campaign raised about $153,000 last year.
The walk was a victory lap for many breast cancer survivors like Teresa Mullins and Melisa Vealey.
"Woo-hoo," shouted Mullins and Vealey as they threw up their arms and passed under the finish line, an archway of pink balloons.
Both have been cancer-free for three years.
Mullins, 50, and Vealey met at Robert Boissoneault Oncology Institute about three years ago when they shared a similar treatment schedule.
"I had a distorted shadow in a mammogram and then had a needle biopsy when I was diagnosed," Vealey recalled. "I went to see a high school friend and eventually told her and we both cried. I called my aunt, who is a cancer survivor. I wanted to live to see the birth of my grandson David Monell III. He's 2½ now."
Mullins said her breast cancer was self-detected rather than through a mammogram.
"I just knew I had it. It was sort of a relief (to know) because my father, Larry Poock, passed away from colon cancer at age 33 when I was 5. I'm sure the research for his treatment helped me," Mullins said.
Clayton said people can call the American Cancer Society's National Cancer Information Center 24 hours a day at 800-227-2345 or go to www.cancer.org for support and information.
Locally, the organization can help breast and cancer patients with information and items including wigs and scarves, hats and bras, Clayton said.
CF students Heather Couch, 26; Heath Hammar, 26; Kendra Kirby, 18; Michael Battisti, 20; Gregory Freeman, 45; and Stephen Michaelides, 30, all in law enforcement-related courses at CF, wore tags in support of Sangi Blair, 52, wife of Marion County Sheriff Chris Blair, a breast cancer survivor who underwent a double mastectomy 14 years ago when her daughter Alesa, now 22, was 8.
Sangi, on the CF law enforcement program faculty, walked the 5K with her husband.
"I finished first," Sangi joked.
Sangi and Alesa are 2014 Making Strides committee members, and Sangi is a former chair for the organization.
Family friend Suzanne Moore called Sangi "her hero."
Sheriff Blair said 14 years ago he was concerned he "might be raising an 8-year-old daughter by myself."
The combined effort of the Marion County Sheriff's Office; the Ocala, Dunnellon and Belleview police departments; Ocala Fire Rescue, Marion County Fire Rescue, Florida Highway Patrol, Marion County Public Safety Communication, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Department of Corrections were the top contributor to this year's campaign, with more than $14,000 raised for the campaign, according to Making Strides of Ocala.
The Making Strides of Ocala website indicates Baseline's Best Friends at $7,400 and Say Ta Ta Forever to Breast Cancer at $5,300 are the second- and third-place teams, while the top companies are Florida Cancer Specialists at $1,275, Marion County Clerk of the Circuit Court at $1,040 and Reel Feisty and Reel Fighter at $670.
Top individual participants indicated are Claire Wilder with $5,000 raised, Judith Poisson at $2,838 and Robin Arnold with $2,338.
Vashti Nugent, a five- year survivor of stage four breast cancer who underwent radiation, chemotherapy and a double mastectomy, was joined by friends in celebrating "Victory for Vashti." Nugent is employed at Ocala Plastic Surgery. Dr. Jim Rogers with the same office did her breast reconstruction and celebrated with the group.
Maggie Lewis, a 26- year cancer survivor, was joined at the event by her daughter Natasha Oliver.
"It was a nice event today with a beautiful atmosphere. It was a cool morning but a warm environment," Oliver said.
via Smart Health Shop Forum http://ift.tt/1w70KUH
No comments:
Post a Comment