Breast Cancer

GREENCASTLE, Pa. --Three and a half years ago, Karen Holmes was diagnosed with breast cancer. One of the things resulting from her struggle was her book, "He Provides the Shoes: Walking with God through Breast Cancer," published last year through Xulon Press. The title of the book comes from a quote by evangelist Corrie ten Boom: "If God sends us on strong paths, we are provided strong shoes. " "We all struggle through trials. Some are larger than others," said Holmes of Greencastle.

The Southside 48 Bowling League recently hosted Bowl for a Cure at Southside Bowl in Hagerstown. It was a fundraiser to raise money and awareness for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization for breast cancer research. A total of $6,599.42 was donated to the Komen organization by the Southside 48 Bowling League. Bowlers paid an entry fee, brought in pledges and each received a commemorative Bowl for the Cure T-shirt. There were also door prizes, 50/50 drawings and items raffled off. Many area businesses and individuals made contributions by sponsoring lanes or donating merchandise and/or gift cards for door prizes and for the raffles.

Eleven nursing students at the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown Towson nursing program were honored this fall with scholarships to attend the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition Conference Oct. 9, in Harrisburg, Pa.  The event was held at the Harrisburg Hilton Hotel. The Towson nursing students were selected for the Cary Massa scholarship. Massa was an active member and dedicated volunteer for the annual conference each year. The students who attended were Hannah Bradley, Brittany Bowman, Melani Harmon, Emily Heckman, Laura Kroll, Brittany Propst, David Rico, Kat Robbins, Tara Robertson, Alimatu Sangari-Sammarie and Bryce Smetzer.  For the past three years, Janet Tompkins McMahon, Towson University at USMH instructor, has successfully helped students with the scholarship program.

Norm Potter likes garden tractor pulling and eating at Dixie Diner in Smithsburg. The diner staff like to go all out raising money for their Step-n-Stride Against Breast Cancer team. The two parties saw an unlikely compatibility there. “The Dixie ladies just said, 'It would be perfect if we mix what we're doing with what you are doing,'” Potter said. So three times now, the ladies have hit The Reserves, a pulling track surrounded by cornfields off Smithsburg Pike. They peddle raffle tickets on breast-cancer-awareness-pink items in pink buckets, pink cakes and pink quilts while Potter and friends pull tractors at Pulling for a Cure.

The second Franklin County Metric Century cycling event on June 23, raised more than $5,000 to benefit breast care services offered by Rhonda Brake Shreiner Women's Center, an affiliate of Summit Health, and the Cumberland Valley Breast Care Alliance. The event was organized by the Franklin County Cyclists. One hundred and fifty-five riders from across the country started at the Chambersburg First Church of God and followed routes that were 63 miles, 40 miles, 18.5 miles or 12 miles, through scenic Franklin County.

Accompanied by a police escort, close to 50 motorcycles rumbled through downtown Waynesboro early Sunday afternoon with the goal of raising money and awareness about a deadly disease. After wet weather pushed the event back a week, the Fraternal Order of the Eagles riders from Chapter 1758 of Waynesboro, held a breast cancer awareness benefit poker run that started at the FOE and traveled about 40 miles around the area before returning to the lodge on Pa. 16, just west of Waynesboro.

The 4-Star Gymnastic Team recently took fifth place after raising $5,800 for Breast Cancer Awareness (Unite For Her) at the Pink Invitational-Gymnasts Unite competition in Philadelphia. The team placed fifth out of 43 teams competing to raise money. 4-Star Gymnasts Genna Chenoweth and Breanna Koopman accepted the award on behalf of the team. 4-Star is in Williamsport.

Julia Manor Health Care Center employees participated in the Step 'n' Stride 2012 breast cancer awareness walk on Oct. 20 helping to raise money for the cause.  Julia Manor team members walked the five-mile distance with 47 teams from other registered organizations. The annual charity event was held at Hagerstown Community College.  Along with the walk a survivor's photo was offered, a banner contest and a survivor's raffle. Julia Manor also pledged $50 for each of the seven team members who participated in the event.

Breast cancer - stages As with any cancer, early detection can allow for treatment before the disease spreads beyond the breast. The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the more likely a patient is to defeat it. Stage 0 The earliest form of breast cancer is Ductal carcinoma in situ. Cancerous cells are found within a duct but have not spread to the fatty tissue in the breast. Survival rate: 98 percent. Stage 1 Tumors are less than 2 centimeters (3/4 inches)

The students at White Tiger Martial Arts in Hagerstown held a kickathon Sept. 15 to raise money for breast cancer awareness. This year, the Kick-A-Thon for Breast Cancer raised $4,253. Mr. Jimmy, the owner and master instructor at the school, asks his students to challenge themselves and kick more than 1,500 kicks in a one-hour kicking session. This year, they surpassed the goal and kicked 1,600 kicks to raise the money. There were many tears on the mat as one of the mothers of two of the students, who recently had a double mastectomy and is undergoing chemotherapy treatments, stepped onto the mat and kicked the final 10 kicks with all of the kickers.

On May 10, 2013, God called home my best friend at 50 years of age. Janet was a wonderful wife and "best friend" to Doy C. Sneckenberger for more than 30 years. We met one Sunday while she was finishing up her classes at Hagerstown Business College in the fall of 1982. We were married June 15, 1985, at Devil's Backbone Park. That was one of our favorite places to walk and talk about life and make plans for the future. Today, there is no doubt in my mind that she is in paradise with her Lord, Jesus Christ, and setting up a home for us there.

The red, white and blue color scheme newly representing the Hagerstown Suns gave way to a deep shade of purple Friday at Municipal Stadium, where cancer survivors sporting the color took a celebratory lap around the bases before the game. The minor league baseball team hosted the American Cancer Society Relay for Life to honor area cancer survivors at their home game against the Hickory Crawdads. Melissa Wheatcraft, 58, of Hagerstown, was diagnosed with lung cancer, unrelated to tobacco, in June 2011.  About a year ago, doctors told Wheatcraft her cancer was terminal.

Pa. American Cancer Society volunteers thanked To the editor: This year the American Cancer Society celebrates its 100th birthday. On behalf of our patients, families and communities, your American Cancer Society would like to take this opportunity to thank our valuable volunteers who support us in our mission to Finish the Fight against cancer. The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service.

Brent Borreson could be spending the night partying with Sting. But instead of attending a celebration with the rock star on Saturday, April 13, he'll be in Hagerstown raising money to fight breast cancer. Borreson, a Redken global artist, will be the creative force behind An Evening of Hope-Fashion for a Cure, a hair-inspired event benefiting Breast Cancer Awareness-Cumberland Valley. The show is being sponsored by Bella Salon & Spa of Hagerstown, in partnership with The Maryland Theatre, where the fundraiser will be held.

Kelli Ayers Cook, RN, 56, of Hanover, Va., and a Hagerstown native, died Wednesday, March 27, 2013, in Savage, Md., after a three-year battle with breast cancer. Born Dec. 24, 1956, she was the daughter of Gladys Ayers Vollmerhausen of Savage and the late Norman H. Ayers. In addition to her mother, she is survived by her sister, Bonnie J. Ayers, and adored daughter, Emily M. Cook, both of Germantown; and many, many friends and loved ones. Kelli graduated from North Hagerstown High School in 1974, Hagerstown Junior College in 1976 and received a bachelor of arts from Shepherd University in 1978.

The Waynesboro (Pa.) Area Gala Cancer Auction drew one of the largest crowds in its 32-year history due in part to a change in location, according to event organizers. It was the first time in the history of the event that it has been held outside of Waynesboro, said Jill Kessler of the fundraiser's steering committee. Saturday's auction moved from downtown Waynesboro to Green Grove Gardens off Pa. 16 outside Greencastle. The change in venue brought some new faces to the auction, Kessler said.

The 4-Star Gymnastic Team recently took fifth place after raising $5,800 for Breast Cancer Awareness (Unite For Her) at the Pink Invitational-Gymnasts Unite competition in Philadelphia. The team placed fifth out of 43 teams competing to raise money. 4-Star Gymnasts Genna Chenoweth and Breanna Koopman accepted the award on behalf of the team. 4-Star is in Williamsport.

Breast cancer survivors, their friends and family embraced, posed and smiled for the camera during a complimentary portrait session by Kelly Hahn Johnson of Kelly Hahn Photography during the Celebration of Life survivors' party hosted by Breast Cancer Awareness-Cumberland Valley for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October the last two years.  Survivors were invited to pose with their family and friends, and each received a print as a keepsake....

Dozens of people knocked down pins Sunday to build up women as Sunshine Lanes sought to raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The bowling alley off Pa. 16 hosted a “Bowl for the Cure” event to raise money for breast cancer research. It was the third event of its type for the business. Manager Robin Reed said she felt compelled to do something to support the organization after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. She created an all-day event for tournament players and those people choosing to participate in open bowling.

Boonsboro resident Selena Doyle reflected Monday night on her successful battle against breast cancer. Doyle said she underwent chemotherapy, radiation and surgery in Baltimore to turn the tide against the disease. Doyle feels that if she had been diagnosed 10 years ago, cancer research would not have been advanced enough to help her. “It feels great,” said Doyle, who has been cancer free since last February. Doyle was one of about 100 cancer survivors and caregivers who attended a Valentine's survivors dinner sponsored by Relay for Life of Washington County.