Kate and Joe made the cover of the Stanford Daily!
The Stanford Daily: “Cancer Survivors Celebrate Life”
Cancer survivors celebrate life
April 15, 2008
By Chelsea Ma
Over one year ago, Kate McGrath ‘10 and Joe Oehmke ‘10 found themselves in disagreement with their classmates in IHUM section. Rather than supporting Leo Tolstoy’s cynical approach to life, they believed that living, with all its obstacles, was worthwhile — a common appreciation that opened up a friendship. It wasn’t until the end of the quarter when they realized that what they shared was not merely an opinion, but an experience: both had survived cancer.
The two shared the details of their struggles and recoveries during the Luminaria Ceremony last Friday night at Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) annual fundraising event.
McGrath and Oehmke’s stories are similar. Both were diagnosed when they were 15 — McGrath with acute lymphocytic leukemia, Oehmke with Ewing’s sarcoma, a type of bone and soft tissue cancer. They went through a cycle of shock, fear and resolve. School and extracurricular activities were shoved in the background as their days became structured around trips to the hospital for chemotherapy.
“The thing about cancer is that your life to some degree tends to be dictated by the requirements of treating that illness,” Oehmke said. “I had to plan my life around my limitations and my hospital schedule, as well as around what I could and could not do because of the chemo.”
In celebration of cancer survivors like Oehmke and McGrath, about 535 participants, plus over 100 volunteers, showed up at Roble Field to remember those who passed away and raise money to fund research. The 24 hours were filled with music and dance performances by groups such as Mixed Company and Swingtime, as well as fun activities such as bobbing for apples.
The event raised over $44,000, lower than in previous years, though the turnout was high.
“We changed our event back to a Friday-Saturday event, which doesn’t seem to take over as much of your weekend as a Saturday-Sunday one,” said co-chair Ana Pena ‘09. “I think that may have had something to do with the turnout. The fact that Relay is growing worldwide also helps.”
For McGrath, Oehmke and other cancer survivors, volunteering for the event is what McGrath described as a way of giving back to the community that saved her. Because ACS is a nonprofit organization, funds used toward research rely heavily on donations.
“Seeing people out there supporting this cause is so inspirational to me, and just gives me so much hope,” McGrath said. Her chances of being cured were over 90 percent, and, according to her, “that progress is a direct result of volunteer effort.”
And this is the main goal of Relay for Life — to raise not just money, but enthusiasm and a sincere belief in a cure for cancer. Before a crowd standing in a circle of lit candles, McGrath and Oehmke communicated the beauty of recovery, of understanding what is and is not important after overcoming a life-threatening illness.
“Dealing with cancer forces you to take a step back from your life and look at all the people and things that make life worth living,” Oehmke said at the ceremony. “It taught me the amazing power of family and friends, and taught me to not only trust in my own inner strength, but also in the strength and support provided by everyone around me.”
McGrath expressed gratitude upon seeing so many individuals walking the track in support of ACS’s cause.
“Having my friends and family there really means a great deal to me — it’s a very visual concept of support,” she said. “Every year I’m so grateful that people are able to give themselves for one day to fight against cancer. It’s a huge symbolic act.”
