How has cancer touched your life?

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