In 1985, the American Cancer Society and a leading cancer drug company partnered together to create National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. It was promoted by Betty Ford, who was a cancer survivor herself. The goal of NBCAM is to educate women and encourage mammograms as well as raise money for cancer research.
I had the special privilege of running in the Bee Brave 5k, a race that raises money for breast cancer research through the Van Andel Institute. On October 12, hundreds of runners and their friends and family came to a little farm in Caledonia to run or walk in the blossoming fall colors. The race is special because all of the registration funds are donated, and friends and family of breast cancer fighters and survivors can donate in the name of their relative or friend. The total count of money raised reached nearly $80,000.00 between donations and registration fees. The crisp morning started off with the testimonies of women whose lives have been touched by cancer. Before the race began, every woman who had or has breast cancer went to the front and told a piece of their story. It was so powerful to see so many women who were survivors of cancer share their experiences, and their stories provided support for those who were still fighting.
The morning’s Featured Fighter was Jodi Sikma. Her story starts over 15 years ago when she was first diagnosed. She battled cancer once and came out on top, but last April she was diagnosed again with stage four cancer, which has no cure. It can be managed, but it will never go away. Despite her terrible situation and the tough hand she has been dealt with
, the focus of her speech was not her cancer. Instead, she talked about the importance of cancer research and the work being done at the Van Andel Institute. She presented her story in a way that was filled with trust in God and a positive outlook on the world around her, which deserves serious admiration.
Other members of our school had the opportunity to raise money for breast cancer research through volleyball games. On September 23, Wyoming and Calvin Christian’s freshman, JV, and varsity teams all played. In between games, a collection was passed and there were t-shirts and baked goods for sale with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. The players wore special pink t-shirts for the game, and they were able to put the name of someone they knew who had breast cancer on the back of their shirts. Courtney Ilbrink, who played for her grandma that night, says that “it was amazing to see both teams play their hearts out for our loved ones. It was a beautiful thing.”
We continue to pray that scientists and researchers at places like the American Cancer Society and Van Andel Institute will be able to find better treatments and cures for cancer, and it is our hope that the money our community raised will assist with that.
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