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John Goodwin, a teacher at West Salem High School for more than 30 years, was recently diagnosed with cancer. Goodwin, this year’s honorary chairperson and guest speaker for the 2010 West Salem Relay for Life, has an inspiring story to tell.
Several West Salem High School senior girls on this year’s Relay for Life organizing committee were asked if they thought he’d be willing to participate as honorary chair. Their eyes lit up, and they responded confidently that they would gang up on him and, yes, he would agree. They were right, and we on the organizing committee are delighted to have him on board. He’s a great guy with a great story.
Another West Salem teacher, Jane Macdonald, was our honorary chair a few years ago, and is still with the relay as a cancer survivor and an integral part of our organizing committee.
My family first became involved in Relay for Life in 1999, when one of my sons, Ben, was diagnosed with a form of brain cancer. We found a clinical trial (experimental treatment) at the University of Wisconsin cancer research and treatment center, which he finished in October 1999.
Shortly after he finished the clinical trial, we discovered the research leading up to it and much of the cost of participation had been funded by the American Cancer Society.
The experimental treatment worked, and as a result, Ben has been cancer free since then. In August 2009, he was pronounced “cured” by his medical staff, and on Sept. 12, 2009, our family celebrated the marriage of Ben and his fiancée, Amy. The two- to four -year life expectancy prognosis when he was first diagnosed is now ancient history.
Most people are familiar with the American Cancer Society, but here’s a little more information, so you know who we are and what we do. The ACS is the largest nongovernment source of cancer research dollars in the country.
In addition to those research dollars, the money raised also supports the ACS’s Web site at
www.cancer.org, where anyone can get comprehensive, free information about cancer, and a 24/7 cancer hotline at 1-800-ACS-2345, where people can talk to ACS staff regarding any question they might have about cancer.
(It was from my call to that hotline that we learned enough about Ben’s cancer to make informed, specific inquiries about a relevant clinical trial.)
The money also supports a long list of patient help services and an advocacy program that works to help improve cancer prevention and cancer treatment.
The theme for this year’s West Salem relay, which is April 9-10, is “Relay Olympics — We’re In It to Win It.” Details about this year’s entertainment, food court, participating teams and other elements will be announced as they develop.
The event is alcohol and tobacco free, held at West Salem High School and open to the public. In the past, we’ve had teams from West Salem, Bangor, Melrose-Mindoro, Holmen and Onalaska, many of whom have become “regulars.”
More information about the event or forming a team can be obtained by checking our Web site at
www.relayforlife.org/ westsalemwi, calling Lori Francis at the Onalaska office of the ACS at 783-5001, or calling one of our co-chairs. They are Lisa Betsinger at 786-1536, and Karla Beckman at (507) 895-2145.
Hope to see you there.
Terry Schmeckpeper of Onalaska is publicity chair for the 2010 West Salem Relay for Life.
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