 |
| My wife Shannon with Primo & me with Marciano |
How has cancer touched your life? Chances are you have had a
loved one or friend who has been diagnosed with cancer. Perhaps you have
had a cancer diagnosis. Cancer is far reaching. It does not
discriminate. On April 27th of this year the
Tri-Cities Cancer Center
will hold it’s 4th Annual
Run for Ribbons. Participants are given a
t-shirt with an outline of a cancer ribbon, which they are encouraged to
decorate by coloring the ribbon with a cancer that has impacted their
lives. In years past, runners/walkers have added additional ribbons and
pictures to their shirts. For some it’s a memorial – and that is why
they run. For others it’s a celebration of life! It might be they are
running for their own personal victory over cancer or perhaps the
survivorship of a loved one or friend. Each shirt tells a story that is
as unique as the runners/walkers themselves.
Why will you run? We would love to hear your story if it is something
you would like to share. Who knows, with your permission, it could be a
featured story in our community newsletter or used as a blog. Email us
and tell us “What will you run for?”
publicrelations@tccancer.org
Why I Run
I am running for loved ones lost and victories won. When I was a
young guy, around 8-years old, I lost a childhood friend to a brain
tumor. I didn’t really understand what was going on – but I knew I
wouldn’t be seeing my friend Matt again… In 1986 I lost my grandfather
to lung cancer. It was number of years later that cancer would impact my
life again. My wife and I don’t have children – we have dogs,
specifically boxers, which are embedded in our lives. They are family.
They go everywhere and do everything with us: holiday celebrations,
birthdays, vacations – you name it! We lost our first dog, Dempsey, to
cancer when he was eleven. We coordinated treatment with an oncologist
at WSU in Pullman. Unfortunately, the disease took our little guy within
six-weeks of diagnosis. That was six years ago. This past year we lost
another one of our boxers, Cassius, to lymphoma. Again we coordinated
with an oncologist at WSU. We were blessed to have Cassius with us an
additional ten-months from the time of diagnosis. Unfortunately, the
little guy was only four years old when he came out of remission and the
disease took his life. Sad day.
There have been victories too! My wife and I have had two good
friends who found out they were pregnant while at the same time being
diagnosed with cancer. Happy to report both mom’s and their little girls
are doing great! This past May we had three very close family members
diagnosed with cancer within ten-days of each other. Scary. One was
diagnosed with breast cancer while the other two were diagnosed with
types of skin cancer. Treatment went well and again, all are doing
great!
So, I run for family, the two legged and four-legged variety, I run
for friends, and I run for the people we serve at the Cancer Center as
this event brings awareness and funding to support people and need.
Hope to see you with your sneakers on in April! Drop us a note, let us know “
What will you run for?”
Michael Novakovich
Director of Business Development
Tri-Cities Cancer Center
My favorite part of working at Tri-Cities Cancer Center
is when I hear the faint sound of our prize fighters bell ringing. A patient
rings the bell at the end of their radiation treatment, their fight with cancer
over. What comes after the bell rings? Applause. Everyone takes a moment to
applaud you, the patient. Your strength and courage is applauded. We applaud
you as a simple way to show you, our wonderful patients how much they are cared
for, thought of and loved. They are never alone, they have become a member of
the Tri-Cities Cancer Center family. I am in the Administration offices and you
may never hear me but I hear your bell and I applaud you.
