Cancer Patients

Waynesboro Area Senior High School students will spend seven hours on their feet Saturday, May 12, to benefit The Four Diamonds Fund and pediatric cancer patients at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. Waynesboro's Mini-THON is based on Penn State University's annual dance marathon, the largest student-run philanthropy in the nation. Mini-THONs were started in 1993-94 by students wanting to support The Four Diamonds Fund before college and have raised more than $4 million since their inception.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Dr. Douglas Hess has seen "cancer from the other side of the treatment table. " The family physician from Shady Grove, Pa., told a group of about 200 cancer survivors and family members Sunday that his lung cancer was discovered a year ago. He said it was diagnosed as stage four and likened that to golf because "you like low scores, not high scores. " Under sunshine and showers, the cancer survivors gathered for National Cancer Survivors Day outside the Cancer Treatment Center at Chambersburg Hospital, where staff members and volunteers handed out plastic leis.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- The Franklin County unit of the American Cancer Society and Summit Health are inviting cancer patients and family members to a free educational program designed specifically for them. The "I Can Cope" program is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Hennessey House on North Seventh Street in Chambersburg. "I Can Cope" is for people facing cancer, including patients, family members and friends. Health-care professionals provide information, encouragement and practical advice about living with cancer.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. The American Cancer Society and Polo Ralph Lauren Childrenswear Division in Martinsburg announced Wednesday the establishment of a patient resource navigator program at WVU Hospitals-East. The WVUH-East Regional Cancer Program is the first cancer center in West Virginia to partner with the American Cancer Society to hire a patient resource navigator, according to a news release. Dr. Tim Bowers, medical director of the WVUH-East Regional Cancer Program, said Pat Fogle, a registered nurse and longtime resident of the area, has been selected to serve as the program's first American Cancer Society patient resource navigator.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. - About 150 archers braved drizzle, cloudy skies and wet grass Saturday to shoot for the benefit of local cancer patients and for research. Jim Nichols of Waynesboro, Pa., a member of the Conococheague Archers, which sponsored the 28th Annual Cancer Memorial Shoot, said Chambersburg Hospital is in charge of the distribution of the funds raised in the three-day shoot. Half will be earmarked for research and half will go to help local cancer patients with the costs of medicine, transportation, detection and other expenses.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. - One of the hardest things Russell Irving does as a volunteer driver for the American Cancer Society is to help his patients keep their spirits up, he said. "You have to get their mind off their troubles," said Irving, 79, of Chambersburg, Pa., one of about 20 volunteers in Franklin County who drive cancer patients to radiation and chemotherapy treatments. "They're frightened, and a lot of times they're alone. " "It's hard for them," said Irving's wife, Maxine, 70, also a volunteer driver.

andrear@herald-mail.com Dick Bowman no longer can taste the strawberries in strawberry shortcake, the flavor of steak or potatoes or marinara sauce. Recently, his tastes have been limited to clam chowder, crab soup and Cocoa Puffs cereal. Chemotherapy for his terminal pancreatic cancer has robbed Bowman of his sense of taste - but his failing health hasn't stripped him of his positive attitude, sense of humor or desire to help others. The Hagerstown resident has launched a program to make it easier for local cancer patients to enjoy dining out - perhaps the only program of its kind in the nation, said Julie Overbaugh, community manager for the American Cancer Society in Washington County, the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia and three counties in Virginia.

KNOXVILLE -- Kendra Barnhart is a high school senior juggling final exams with a part-time job, but over the past few weeks, the 17-year-old South County resident has found time in her busy schedule for a worthy extracurricular: saving lives. Barnhart is organizing a Red Cross blood drive Saturday at her church, Valley Grace Brethren, south of Hagerstown, as part of a Red Cross scholarship program. She said the drive is being held to honor and support two local cancer patients, Terri Tucker of Big Pool and Darlene Householder of Hagerstown.

View the slideshow of the game. View and/or purchase more photos. WILLIAMSPORT -- Being a basketball player at Williamsport High School means something. It is the closest thing to a college fraternity. Wildcats old and new have a special bond that seems to surface whenever a ball rolls out on the floor. They want to be out there again. Any reason is a good one to meet and play together once more. Heck, they don't even need a reason. But former coach Kevin Murphy found a worthy one to get a bunch together for another game.

Sagittarius Salon & Spa will celebrate "35 Years of Beauty! A Wellness and Beauty Auction" on Sunday, Oct. 7, from 2 to 5 p.m. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society's Patient Resource Navigation Program, a partnership with Washington County Hospital. Sunday's event will focus on raising support and awareness for the Cancer Society program, which provides individualized personal guidance for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers to help them navigate the cancer experience.

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.

With her dark hair starting to fall out due to chemotherapy, Natasha Redman's family made sure the 24-year-old Falling Waters, W.Va., woman wouldn't be the only one without much hair for Christmas. Redman was joined by several family members Friday night at 9 West Hair Studio near Martinsburg where they had their heads shaved in “solidarity” as she battles adenocarcinoma of the nasal cavity. “When she's able to grow hair again, that's when we'll grow our hair back,” said Redman's aunt, Connie Caton as salon manager Chrissy Jacobs shaved her head.  “Her mother and I are going to keep it bald.” Caton, along with eight other family members, shaved their heads for Redman, who just underwent her first round of chemotherapy, according to her aunt.

For the third straight year, high school senior soccer players around Washington County faced off one last time for charity at the annual “Kick'n It For A Cause” event held at Clear Spring High School. The event raises money for the Shirley B. Robison Memorial Fund, a local charity that awards grants to cancer patients or families of cancer patients. “Our proceeds go to the fund, which tries to give money to families with a child with cancer,” said Marsha Long, the event's coordinator.

The Grand Chapter of West Virginia, Order of the Eastern Star, recently donated $25,530 to the new outpatient cancer center at West Virginia University Hospitals-East's City Hospital. The money represents a major portion of the $30,000 raised statewide for cancer projects. Past Grand Matron Cynthia Strakal, a resident of Berkeley County, is a 30-month breast cancer survivor. Her sister, Carolyn Siviero, a registered nurse at City Hospital, served as chairman of the fundraising committee for the project.

Meritus Healthcare Foundation's board of directors granted more than $2 million to Meritus Medical Center during a quarterly business meeting July 12. The funds will be used to enhance and continue programs for patients in Washington County and the surrounding region, officials said. “This is what we work so hard for all year long,” said Bob Rankin, chairman of the Meritus Healthcare Foundation. “Our patients need our help; the community needs us.” Donations to Meritus Healthcare Foundation fund programs at the hospital, “some that might not exist at all without donors,” Rankin said.

Waynesboro Area Senior High School students will spend seven hours on their feet Saturday, May 12, to benefit The Four Diamonds Fund and pediatric cancer patients at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. Waynesboro's Mini-THON is based on Penn State University's annual dance marathon, the largest student-run philanthropy in the nation. Mini-THONs were started in 1993-94 by students wanting to support The Four Diamonds Fund before college and have raised more than $4 million since their inception.

Washington County's senior girls soccer players took the field on Monday for the second annual Kick'n It For A Cause exhibition game at Clear Spring High School. Kick'n It For A Cause was created and organized as a charity fundraiser by Marsha Long, whose son Alec - a former Clear Spring soccer player - is celebrating three years of being cancer free. “I'm just glad we have something like this to support the charities,” said Long. “Each year we seem to get more people participating, and the more participants we get, the more we can support the charities.” Boonsboro's Ashlyn Hawbaker scored two goals to lead the East to a 3-1 victory in the game that was more about the cause than the score.

At an upcoming Hospice of Washington County Inc. fundraiser and public awareness program, organizers promise that tables will be outfitted with the traditional appointments, plus one item that isn't all that common at such affairs - a box of tissues. That shouldn't scare anyone off. In fact, it is Hospice that often brings us some of the most poignant and heartwarming moments of our lives, in our loved ones' final hours. "We will make people cry, but we will leave them joyful," promises spokeswoman Cheryl Brown.

Selling lemonade, friendship bracelets and water, youngsters from Jami Morris' family child care home were out on Rutledge Court near Hagerstown Wednesday afternoon, raising money for a cancer patient they don't know. "It's really awesome to make an impact on other people's lives," said 9-year old Hagerstown resident Hannah Neal, daughter of Debbie and Paul Neal. The children have been raising money for 2-year old Alli Pinieski of Hagerstown, who has been diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma.

Since the start of summer, the Hagerstown-based Tri-State Thunder fast-pitch softball organization has done its part fighting the battle against cancer. It's a fight the Thunder 18U Gold team will continue Saturday at the Pinesburg complex in Williamsport from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Thunder are participating in the “Beat Cancer with a Bat” campaign in conjunction with the National Foundation for Cancer Research. Each weekend, the Thunder coaches and players have solicited donations and asked for contributions from local businesses based on the number of runs they score.