September 10, 2012

Join fellow LC Community members for the CureSearch Walk: “To honor. To remember. To cure.”

Join fellow LC Community members for the CureSearch Walk: “To honor. To remember. To cure.”

CureSearch Walk is being held in Portland on Saturday, September 22, at the Sellwood Riverfront Park.

A nonprofit foundation which raises funds and awareness for children’s cancer research, CureSearch resources have benefited two children in our Lewis & Clark College community.

Ella, daughter of Ben Westervelt and Carol Schrader, was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (a type of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma) in September 2010. Cancer has been a hardy and tenacious foe, but Ella has been even more stubborn and tenacious. She had a bone marrow transplant in February 2011. In October, she plans to go to the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, MD to participate in a clinical trial for a promising new therapy. Ella is ten years old and is in the fifth grade. She loves animals (especially dogs and horses), Dr. Who, contemporary music, cooking (she is a bit of a foodie) and hanging out with her friends.

Aaron Beck and Liz Joffe’s son, Alex Joffe, was diagnosed with kidney cancer in February of 2011 when he was six years old. He had his left kidney removed and underwent radiation and nine months of intensive chemotherapy treatment at Legacy Emanuel Hospital. He is presumably cancer free now; but, Alex will undergo scans for five years post treatment before he is considered “cured.” Alex loves to play soccer and Legos. Aaron and Liz - and their entire families - are very grateful for Curesearch resources. They hit some bumps in the road with Alex’s treatment regimen, and directly benefited from the network of children’s oncologists that pools research data to find optimal treatments and cures for kids.

Take some time this September to support children with cancer. There are many ways to jump in - to honor, remember and cure!

You may sign up to walk with the Lewis & Clark Team or donate to those walking. The website is www.curesearchwalk.org/portland.

The Health Professions Club—a student run organization is volunteering the day of the event and would love to have you join them—let Adonica De Vault (devault@lclark.edu), the staff advisor for HPC, know that you want to volunteer and she will hook you up.

Finally, while CureSearch has been and remains a great resource to our L&C families, there have been others as well. Check out Candlelighters, Make-A-Wish, or the Children’s Cancer Association (including their ChemoPal program) to donate your time.

We are a community of caring and committed citizens - local, state, national and international. This is one way for you to help a child - a child loved right here in the Lewis & Clark College community!

Thank you,

Adonica L. De Vault

Acting Director Center for Career and Community Engagement (3CE)