SUN CITY – “You’re not alone” is a familiar phrase, but to the Breast Cancer Support Group in the Del Webb community, it means a whole lot to several people, both women and men.
Eleven years ago, Audrey Munger (N.2) founded the group, and it has grown steadily through the years, meeting at the PNC Bank Community Room in Huntley the first Wednesday of every month at 1 p.m. There you will meet people who have just learned they have breast cancer, along with several who are thirty-two- and thirty-five-year survivors. At about every other meeting, one or two new people come aboard. From time to time they will have speakers, but for the most part, it is a support group.
2010 5K Cancer Walk participants. (Photo provided)
Lorel Kelson (N.3) points out, “This is not a pity group but one of hope. [At our meetings] we introduce ourselves and discuss what’s happening, what drugs people are taking. We discuss pain, ‘Does anyone have that?’ ‘Yes!’ Some members will wonder, ‘Why is this happening,’ and ‘Am I the only one?’ It’s a good forum to discuss what you’re going through. As a support group, we all understand. Some questions may arise about where to go for a prosthesis, hair coverings, etc,” Kelson said.
“In 2001, when I became a member, there were 15 of us, and we met in one another’s homes,” Kelson continued. “We’ve grown since then. We did have some men, and we’re open to anyone with breast cancer. Men do get breast cancer also and have mastectomies.”
Kelson related her own experience, having first been diagnosed back in 1990. At that time, she was given six months to live. Then, ten years ago, the cancer came back, but the diagnosis got better due to more modern medications and more new medications. Kelson is currently stable and gets scanned every six months.
For the past nine years, the Breast Cancer Support Group has conducted the You’re Not Alone 5K Cancer Walk. This year the walk will be kicked off by Huntley Police officers and is scheduled for October 1, beginning at the Sun City Fountain View Pavilion at 9:30 a.m. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Several local businesses have donated and helped with funding and registration to help defray the cost of the t-shirts, and all other monies are donated to charities. Goebert’s will furnish donuts and cider. Kelson, cancer walk co-chair, reported that the walk has raised close to $7,000 in the past and has grown each year to about 400 participants.
She wanted to make sure to note that “It has never rained during the walk—before and after, but never during.” She said that even the grandkids will come out for it and watch.
Water will be supplied for everyone at the start of the walk. Golf carts will accompany the walkers in case people need assistance. Raffle tickets will be offered for some beautiful quilts.
To prepare for the cancer walk, Kelson walks about three to five miles a day and is very active with the cancer support group. She also belongs to a book club, the Annual Arts and Crafts Show, is a member of the local theater group, radio and broadcasting group, and still finds time to play mahjong.
Kelson said, “I’m living with cancer, not dying from it.”
This year’s co-chairs are Sherri Manz (N.21) and Andrea Berebitsky (N.21). Berebitsky joined the group in 2005 and really liked this particular group because they were supportive. Berebitsky has been busily working on the registration for the walk, as they need to get the sizes from the people for the cancer walk t-shirts.
If you’re interested in participating in the opportunity to help a most worthy cause, please register at the Wellness Center in the Prairie Lodge until September 10. Registration is $15. Then you will be guaranteed a shirt size.
Berebitsky herself used to walk three to five miles a day, and she said it would take her about two hours. One day she was walking with her dog, and it began to rain.
Someone yelled out, “You’d better run,” and Berebitsky quipped, “We are.”
Who receives the monies that are collected? It starts within District 158 and goes to anyone in need who has cancer.
“Once someone didn’t want the money, so we found we could give them a gas card, which would help them get back and forth to the doctor, etc,” said Berebitsky.
In the Sew n’ Sew Club at Del Webb, there is a group of ladies who will sew caps for ladies who have lost their hair. They are known as the “Head Huggers” and offer 10 different sizes and distribute to 16 different locations: Sherman Hospital, Fox Valley Hospital, Oncology offices, and Centegra to name a few.
Berebitsky concluded by saying that “At the end of the walk, you are able to give something to someone who needs the help, and it makes you feel so good. You’re helping someone rest easier even for a day.”
Please call Andrea at 847-669-7076 or Sherri at 847-669-3688 or Lorel at 847-515-8859 if you have questions.
