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Childhood cancer survivor inspires hope at Relay event
By Janice Youngwith
"It's amazing and emotional," says Stephanie Flood, a 21-year-old Northern Illinois University junior and childhood cancer survivor. "Every cancer survivor has their own story of inspiration and hope."
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| Four-time brain cancer survivor Stephanie Flood, 21, celebrates survivorship. |
Where to join Relay For Life
North Suburban/Lake County
June 12-13 Buffalo Grove/Stevenson HS, Buffalo Grove HS
June 13-14 Lake Zurich Area/Wauconda/Island Lake, Paulus Park
June 27-28 Greater Waukegan/Far North Shore, Bevier Park
July 11-12 Gurnee / Wadsworth, Warren Township HS
July 25-26 Antioch / Lakes Area, Township Park, Lake Villa
August 1-2 Grayslake /Round Lake Area, Round Lake HS
Northwest Suburban
June 5-6 Bartlett/Hanover Park/Streamwood, Community Park, Hanover Park
June 6-7 Barrington, Barrington High School
June 12-13 Palatine/Rolling Meadows/Inverness, Fremd HS
June 12-13 Elk Grove, Elk Grove High School
June 12-13 Buffalo Grove / Stevenson HS, Buffalo Grove HS
June 19-20 Arlington Heights, Forest View
June 26-27 Des Plaines/Park Ridge, Maine West HS
July 10-11 Schaumburg, Alexian Field
August 7-8 Hoffman Estates, Village Green
DuPage County
June 5-6 Addison/Lombard/Villa Park, Montini Catholic HS
June 5-6 Bensenville/Wood Dale, Fenton HS
June 5-6 South Naperville, Neuqua Valley HS
June 12-13 Roselle/Bloomingdale/Itasca, Lake Park HS West Campus
June 12-13 Glen Ellyn/Wheaton/Winfield, Glenbard South HS
June 12-13 Wood Grove, Downers Grove North HS
June 13-14 North Naperville/Lisle, Naper Settlement
June 19-20 Elmhurst, Timothy Christian HS
August 8-9 Carol Stream, Ross Ferraro Town Center
August 21-22 Oak Brook, Hinsdale, Burr Ridge, Oak Brook Park District
Fox Valley
June 5-6 Northern Fox Valley, Deicke Park
June 12-13 South McHenry, Crystal Lake South HS
June 12-13 Elgin Community College, Elgin Community College
June 12-13 Oswego/Montgomery, Oswego HS
June 26-27 Kane County, Elfstrom Stadium, Geneva
June 27-28 North McHenry, McHenry Township Park
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None of those stories are more awe-inspiring than that of Flood herself, who has battled and survived brain cancer four times. Since her first diagnosis at age nine, the Lake In The Hills native has triumphed over treatment, surgery and countless hurdles to recovery.
First diagnosed in 1997, Flood's initial surgery to remove a tumor left cancer cells lingering on the nerve leading to her vocal cords. Radiation therapy followed.
Three years later as a 12-year-old preteen, the tumor recurred. Doctors at Children's Memorial Hospital again performed surgery and follow up temozolamide chemotherapy shrinking the remaining tumor. A year later, gamma knife surgery and high-dose radiation were employed and in 2002 doctors combined surgery with intra-beam radiation to finally eradicate the cancer.
Bumps on the road to recovery have included a 2005 mini stroke that as a college freshman left her left side paralyzed. In 2008, Flood noticed vague symptoms her doctors attributed to unexplained matter found on the brain. Her normally stellar notes began appearing more like chicken scratch, and her speech and balance both felt a little off.
Now celebrating seven years cancer-free, Flood, says reaching out to others facing cancer is vital.
Three years ago, her parents, Kevin and Ursula Flood, her older sister and younger brother, joined other survivors and their families in their first American Cancer Society Relay For Life event at Elgin Community College. Flood spoke, sharing her inspirational story of determination and hope.
Last year she chaired the ECC event and this year transferred her efforts to engaging NIU students in DeKalb, with of goal of raising nearly $75,000 during the April 11 weekend event.
"For those involved in Relay For Life it is more than just an event, it is an experience - a life-affirming opportunity to share hope with cancer survivors, caregivers and other supporters in the fight against cancer," says the NIU communications major.
While participants in the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life applaud the successes made over the last 17 years, they are also busy getting ready to welcome teams, cancer survivors, community supporters and the general public to one of over 200 events to be held in Illinois this year.
Relay For Life brings together the community in the fight against cancer. Armed with comfortable shoes and an array of supplies needed for their overnighter, young and old alike will use the illuminated path to guide their feet and hearts as they walk around the clock. Throughout the night, teams of local businesses, schools, churches, community groups and families designate at least one team member at a time to walk or run on the track.
Relay For Life starts with local cancer survivors uniting to walk the first lap of the event. Then, the survivors are joined by family, friends and co-workers who have helped them through their battle with cancer.
A luminaria ceremony is held after dark at each event to honor cancer survivors and those who have lost their battle against cancer. Luminaria, bags filled with sand and a candle that bear the names of those being honored, line the track and continue to burn throughout the night to remind participants of the incredible importance of their contributions.
The goal of this year's Relay For Life in the Illinois Division is to raise more than $20 million for cancer research, community educational programs and advocacy initiatives, and support services for patients and their families throughout Illinois.
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| Cancer survivors complete the first lap at the Northern Illinois University Relay for Life event. |
As the American Cancer Society's signature fundraiser, Relay For Life helps fund programs such as Road to Recovery, a program that provides cancer patients with transportation to and from treatments; Look Good... Feel Better, which focuses on the inner and outer beauty of women going through chemotherapy and radiation treatments; Wig Bank, that offers free wigs, turbans and other hair accessories; Reach To Recovery, which matches newly diagnosed patients with cancer survivors to help them cope with their diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Relay For Life also helps support the Society's Patient Navigation Services, which offers a place where cancer patients and their families can meet face-to-face with a social worker to discuss questions and concerns about diagnosis including subjects such as insurance questions, clinical trials, financial assistance, referrals to counseling and other supportive treatment.
For 17 years, Relay For Life of Illinois has been celebrating cancer survivors while honoring those in the community who lost their battle with cancer. For more information, call the American Cancer Society at (800) 227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
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