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Nicole,
Cincinnati, OH
OR WRITE TO US:
Nicole is a 38 year old wife and mother to her 3 beautiful daughters Mackenzie, Charlie and Rylie, who was diagnosed in April 2016 with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma grade 3, stage 1 breast cancer after finding a lump in her breast. As if this news wasn’t bad enough, she found out the same week in which her sister in law Amanda Watkins Dunn was diagnosed. She was up for the fight knowing she was doing it with someone who had already been through it once. Now imagine having to fight this disease after watching Mandy pass away just 9 weeks later. She was still up for the fight as she endured 6 rounds of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, a breast augmentation and an additional 11 rounds of chemotherapy after the double mastectomy. Nikki can say that she is cancer free at the current time, but she still has to battle this disease for the next 10 years as she has to take pills to prevent the cancer from coming back in addition to more tests and scans. Nicole is a beautiful person inside and out. She will do anything for anyone and always puts others before herself. She enjoys her career as a hair stylist and is very good at it. She loves spending time with her kids, being around family, going to the lake, sporting events, concerts or just a dinner with friends.
Paul "Sherm"
Columbus, OH
Paul "Sherm" is a father of four from the Columbus, OH area and first recipient of the Amanda Watkins Dunn Memorial Fund. Paul played football at Capital University with Amanda's brother.
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On November 4th 2016 our friend was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia after noticing some changes in his body and not being able to eat like he used to. This form of cancer is a slow progressing and uncommon type of blood-cell cancer that begins in the bone marrow. Many people do not develop symptoms until later stages and diagnosis is only made through routine blood work. Sherm has gone through chemotherapy and continues treatment. This process could take months or years, but doctors are confident that they are catching this in the early stages.
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Through this process we have started the Sherm Sack's Cancer Benefit in Columbus, OH and we have helped multiple families over the last few years. Through Paul's journey, we have developed a reason for all Capital University alumni to get together for a great cause.
Gena,
Cincinnati, OH
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37-year-old wife to Gabriel and mother of their two beautiful daughters, Gianna and Gabriella. She was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, ER+, PR+, HER2- Breast Cancer on October 5th, a date that will forever mark a new path in her life. Gena is extremely active in their church and her daughters’ schools. She runs the giving tree at their parish during Christmas, as well as supporting the Oyler School with the help of friends. She organized dinner for 90 students during a time when the school didn’t have funding to support the after-school dinner program. She and her daughters have made blankets for those students since most lack the bare essentials. Gena also volunteers for lunchroom duty, library time, school trips, and holiday parties. She loves giving back and helping others in need in her spare time. Volunteering has become a part of their family life. She and her husband Gabe feel that they can make a difference no matter how small their time or donations are to others. Since they are so used to helping others, they sometimes forget that it is OK to ask for help when needed. They have lived here for 10 years and since their families are not in town, their parish, school, and neighbors have been their backbone, especially since the breast cancer diagnosis. They help with picking up the girls, making meals, and supporting them with their prayers. Their parish, school, and neighbors have become their family here. Gena elected to have a bilateral mastectomy, and with their insurance, which is an HSA, they have depleted their savings and have been putting everything on a credit card. With her continued treatment and their health plan resetting at the beginning of this year, they have worried about getting so far behind that they have discussed selling their house to pay off debt and pulling their girls out of Catholic schools. Their schools and neighbors have been very supportive and provided their girls with an outlet besides home to be able to talk about her cancer or to not talk about it and to just be kids. God is the reason for her strength, hope, and courage to beat cancer. She wants to instill in her girls that no matter how tough and difficult the road is ahead, as long as you have faith and God, anything is possible. That is why it is so imperative that they pay their medical bills and not have to remove their girls from their school and neighborhood. Never in a million years did Gena think breast cancer could happen to her and that she would be asking for help for something so common in women. But she feels that for some reason her life has been diverted on another path, perhaps one less traveled, and that maybe this journey will lead to a greater cause or to help others. Gena was a recipient of the 2nd annual Sherm Sack's Cancer Benefit.
Bobbi,
Cincinnati, OH
Bobbi is the inspiration for the main event that we have in Cincinnati. We host the Amanda Watkins Dunnand Bobbi Weddle Memorial Volleyball Tournament at the Knotty Pine Sportsman's Club in her honor.
Bobbi was not only the heart and sole owner of the Knotty Pine, but a mother of Cole and Casey, wife of Gary. Bobbi Weddle was a cancer survivor, but passed away suddenly. In this very difficult time of grief for the Weddle’s and the Knotty Pine family they want to thank everyone for all of their help, well wishes, phone calls, thoughts and prayers. In such a dark time, the love that has been shown to them all is a much needed light.
Bobbi was a woman necessary for many and loved by all. She lived life with unmatched positivity and care for those around her. She cherished doing for others always before doing for herself, and spending time with her friends and family. She was a very active member at United Methodist Church, the YMCA, children’s tutoring and so many other activities that she loved and that benefits so many.
She was the rock of the family for her husband Gary and sons Cole and Casey.
The family states that without the example she set, her teachings, kind heartedness and love she instilled into our core we would be a truly lost group of men. Our mother tried to set the bar high in her actions and beliefs always practicing a “Do as I do” way of life for her family and the people around her to follow. She never passed judgement on others, and instead would try to provide an ear to listen, insight to problems, examples from her life or others near to her. She was the first to pray, and start prayer chains for others always before herself. One of her favorite quotes was “I am so blessed” and she lived her life with that thought in the front of her mind.
Although in our darkest hour, we are all indeed “so blessed” to have had such a woman with us for 66 years of life. Her actions and words in this community and many others will never be forgotten and are embedded into the hearts of her family. None of us will ever be able to repay Bobbi for all she has given to us, but can only preserve her memory through the kindness, loyalty and love that she has shown to so many.
We love you Mom, we know you are now an angel watching over us all from above, but your presence here on earth will be greatly missed.
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The AWD would like to thank Bobbi and her family for allowing us to honor her life along with the life of Mandy. We truly feel like a part of your family now and giving back allows us to continue to live.
Stacey,
Cincinnati, OH
Stacey (Angel) Steers is the wife of local Hamilton County Sheriff Mikal Steers and a mother of three boys Cody, Mikal and Luke that has suffered from a very rare disease called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) for approximately 12 years. MCAS is an immunological condition in which mast cells inappropriately and without warning excessively release chemical mediators, resulting in repeated episodes of anaphylaxis (swelling of the throat and tongue that blocks breathing.) It is impossible to count how many trips to the hospital there have been for Stacey by life squad, loved ones and even life flight that have resulted in being put on a ventilator. Stacey has endured so much in her young life.
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Unfortunately, on July 5th, 2018 at the age of 43, Stacey suffered a severe Hemorrhagic Stroke that has resulted in paralysis on the left side of her body as well as some cognitive deficits. She has worked very hard to overcome all of the obstacles she has faced. She has amazed everyone including doctors with her courage, strength and stamina. She has had some major improvements, but still has a very hard journey ahead of her. Stacey’s goal is to improve her mobility on the left side of her body and to gain back her independence.
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Due to her immediate health issues and many years of hospital treatment, medical bills continue to overwhelm her family. In order to care for her at home, the Steer’s home has required reconstruction to enable indoor handicap accessibility and an outdoor accessible ramp. At this time, daily home care is required for Stacey.
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Stacey is a fun and loving person with a big heart. These challenges took away her passion of working as an emergency room nurse, but it has not taken away her passion and will to fight. We greatly appreciate your support and prayers as Stacey continues to fight towards gaining back her independence. She is an inspiration to all.