Group raises thousands to battle cancer
Cancer survivor Roni Frederick can’t stress enough her belief that research is the key to fighting this life-threatening disease. “The big thing is hope – hope that this is going to be cured, become a thing of the past, a disease that we can say ‘I remember when people died from cancer,’ like scarlet fever or influenza,’ said the South Union Township woman. “And without money, there can’t be research. That’s the bottom line.’
It’s that attitude that drives Frederick and the other members of The Frederick, Gebe, Family and Friends Team in their inspirational fund-raising efforts for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, a national event that raises funds as well as public awareness and celebrates victories over cancer. This year’s event will be held from 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, to 10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, at Laurel Highlands High School in Uniontown.
In 2001, The Frederick, Gebe, Family and Friends Team raised $28,234 to lead local efforts and become second in the state in fundraising for Relay for Life. The top fundraiser was a corporate team while The Frederick, Gebe, Family and Friends Team is largely composed of family and friends who came together to combat cancer, which has claimed the lives of many family members.
The team also honors Roni, who is a success story.
A native of the Republic area, Roni left Fayette County when she was 17 and moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked for the federal government. She ended up in retail management before moving back to the area in 1994 when Roni’s husband, John Frederick, retired from his job with the federal government so the couple could return to Fayette County to care for their parents. The couple has two children: John, who lives in South Riding, Va., and Andrea, who is a student at West Virginia University.
“I had breast cancer the next year,’ said Roni. “I was in the hospital Dec. 23. I was operated on for a definite cancer tissue. I had a lumpectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiation – all the fun things in life.’
Roni was approached about becoming involved in Relay for Life while she was undergoing radiation treatments at the Fayette County Regional Cancer Center in South Union Township.
“One of the employees mentioned it to me. That year, I begged off. My son was getting married and I was undergoing chemotherapy,’ she explained.
So the Fredericks missed working for the 1996 Relay for Life. But that fall, they put together a team to start raising funds for the 1997 Relay for Life. They developed the team in honor of Roni and in memory of her mother-in-law Elizabeth Frederick, who died in 1996 from lymphoma.
“We had only eight people on the team then,’ said Joy Frederick, Roni’s sister-in-law.
The original team members included Roni, her husband, John, and daughter, Andrea, as well as Joy, her husband Jim, and daughter, Emily, who was then 2 years old (She’s now 8.), all of South Union Township, as well as cousin Joe Mitko of Pittsburgh, and Roni’s sister Kathy Harper, who comes every year from Warrenton, Va., for the event. Kathy’s husband, William, died in 1996 from pancreatic cancer at age 56.
The team raised a little less than $1,000.
“That was pretty good for eight people and one was a baby,’ noted Joy.
With zeal, the team’s fund-raising efforts grew and so did the team, adding members such as Joy and Jim’s daughter Rachel, now 4. The 2001 Frederick, Gebe, Family and Friends Team raised an astonishing $28,234.
Those team members included Emily Frederick, Kathy Harper, Rachel Frederick, Bonnie Gebe, Joy Frederick, Margie Gebe, Frances Kachur, Roni Frederick, Andrea Frederick, Jim Frederick, Carl Gebe, John Gebe, Joe Mitko, John Frederick, Christine Lindley and Eric Lindley.
“This year we’ve expanded to 19 people,’ said Roni, who noted the team’s fundraising efforts already number more than $28,000.
Nancy Verderber, income development specialist for the American Cancer Society, said, “It’s amazing how much they’ve raised. They’re not going to a particular company. It’s all through extended community: family, friends, people they know. Their efforts have inspired other teams. They bring to it such enthusiasm. They put their heart and soul behind it.’
The funds are raised through a variety of efforts. They included the Celebration of Life Gala, which the team started in 2001. This is a formal dinner, held this past April at the Lakeside Party Center in McClellandtown.
“We wanted to have a party to celebrate life,’ explained Roni. “There are causes for celebration. You can still celebrate although a person might be gone. It doesn’t mean you don’t remember them.’
The gala is a coat-and-tie affair that includes a sit-down dinner, Chinese auction, 50/50 and dancing.
“It’s just a lot of fun and togetherness,’ said Roni. “We tried to keep it upbeat.’
In its first year, the gala raised $6,000. This past spring, proceeds from the gala were approximately $15,000. Joy said the Frederick, Gebe, Family and Friends Team is turning the gala over to another team next year.
In addition, the Footedale Volunteer Fire Department contributes to the team’s efforts by operating a weekly Stamp Out Cancer Special at their bingo games. Half of the money goes to the winner and half goes to the American Cancer Society. The fire department receives nothing, reported Joy and Roni, who said this fundraiser has been going on approximately four years. Both John and Jim Frederick are members of the fire department.
Team members also sell strip tickets, canvas family and friends for donations and had a team member donate funds that were matched by his employer.
Various hot dog sales go on throughout the year at Gebe-Skocik Tire Center in Uniontown. Team members also obtain ads for the Relay for Life program book. There is also a Relay Day at the Uniontown Mall, held in late spring.
Team members also give of their time, serving in various positions on the Fayette County American Cancer Society Relay for Life Planning Committee. This year, Roni is in charge of the sponsorship committee while Joy is the Web site administrator and will be next year’s co-chairwoman. John is also a former co-chairman of the planning committee. Jim is the sign director. Team member Frances Kachur of Hopwood is in charge of luminaries.
The need to participate continues to grow as cancer continues to effect the family.
“We’ve had another brother-in-law die from cancer last year: William Mlakar of Herndon, Va. He was originally from Uniontown. He had lung cancer,’ said Roni. “And we lost an aunt from cancer a week ago: Eleanor Dupej, of Uniontown. She had pancreatic cancer.
“That’s why we do this,’ she continued. “That’s why Joy does this. I have a daughter. She has two daughters. We’re looking at breast cancer 10 years down the road. There is all kinds of research going on now.’
Said Joy, “I’ve seen enough people in my family suffer and if I can do something to make a difference so my children or grandchildren don’t have to go through this, I want to be there.’
Working on the Relay for Life team has become a year-round project for various members of the team.
“It’s almost like a job with a lot of us,’ said Roni. “You think about it 24 hours a day. It’s not something you can turn off. But hopefully, there’ll be some progress. I heard something on the news last night. That’s what we do this for.’