Weaverville Bosom Buddies care, share


Redeem Your BLOOMIN’


BUCKS®


Thru Saturday, October 16 We Feature:


North Carolina Grown Plants


From left to right on the front row: Luann Chevalier, Julia Anne Dawson, Patti Oppenheim, Violet Reed, Michelle Klein and Tina Lunsford. From left to right on the second row: Diane Saccone (advisor), Beverly Gregg (advisor), Pat Whitson (advisor) Donna Pappas, Kathy Ayers, Sarah Beth Stern and Colleen Austin.


By Matt Tate It usually only takes a few words


or a fuzzy x-ray image to alter some- one’s life. Te fallout from a breast cancer


diagnosis can be frightening, mad- dening and harrowing, but thanks to the camaraderie one Weaverville group has forged, the journey can be filled with new friendships and support. Bosom Buddies formed in 2009


and has grown to include about 20 members who have been diagnosed with or are recovering from breast cancer. Colleen Austin said the group


meets from 6 pm to 8 pm on the last Tuesday of each month at First Baptist Church, and a local profes- sional donates time to share expert information on anything from the latest in cancer research to building immunity to gardening. Sarah Beth Stern said she still can’t shake some of the images of


guide wires being shot into her arms like darts the day of her cancer sur- gery. She said she is grateful for the care she received from Asheville doc- tors, but there were still 15 months of exhaustion and recovery from four chemotherapy and 33 radiation treatments. Finally, her strength began creep-


ing back and she returned to Zumba classes and the YMCA and a yoga class in the Reems Creek Golf neighborhood. She met other survi- vors there and the impetus for Bo- som Buddies was born. Willetta Tompson has been re-


covering from Stage I breast cancer for 10 years. She moved to Asheville several years ago after living in Ohio. Te surgeon and oncologist treating her recommended a lumpecwtomy to remove the tumor, followed by radiation and either five years of a medicine called tamoxifen or a week of chemotherapy. She declined taking tamoxifen or chemo, much to the chagrin of her


doctors. She later learned she had a bloodclotting disorder called leiden five factor disorder. Taking tamox- ifen could have caused a stroke, Tompson, 62, said. “Each woman needs to choose her


own path after a breast cancer diag- nosis; a support group like Bosom Buddies encourages that,” she said. Michelle Klein is five years out


from her diagnosis. She said she tried to find humor in the process and realize that while she had can- cer, cancer did not have her. Reaching out, volunteering and


joining support groups like Bosom Buddies are what Klein believed em- powered her and those around her. “Cancer can humble you and at


the same time give you strength to reach inside of you and pull out the very best,” she said. All stressed the importance of


early detection and getting regular mammograms. For more, contact Austin at cbaus- tin@comcast.net or 645-2150.


Local joins team for cancer walk


By Matt Tate Sherrie Byrd is not unlike many


of us in that several of her fam- ily members and friends have been struck with breast cancer. Unlike many of us, however, she


is taking her support to the streets, participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, a 39.3-mile jaunt Oct. 23-24 in Charlotte. She is a member of the team


“Freshly Squeezed,” with members from Weaverville to Charlotte. Her individual goal is to raise $1,800 with a team goal of $10,000. “I hope that my little contribu-


tion will help with obliterating this disease,” she said.


www.leicesterleader.com According to statistics, a woman


is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes in the United States, and there are 40,000 breast cancer-related deaths in this coun- try every year. Byrd’s mother is 15-year survivor,


while a friend’s wife lost her nine- year battle last year. She saw the Avon Walk, which


holds similar campaigns in other U.S. cities, as a chance to honor the ladies affected by the disease. “I was given strong legs and


lungs, and I felt this was my way of helping and contributing to the fight. It is a privilege,” she said. To prepare, Byrd participated in


three 5-K runs last summer and has lost 38 pounds.


She stresses the importance of


early detection and understanding that breast cancer is a disease that affects everyone. To donate a tax deductible dona-


tion, Byrd’s walk page is avonwalk. org/goto/sherrieb. Contributors may also mail a donation to Avon Walk for Breast Cancer to Sherrie Byrd, PO Box 812, Weaverville, NC 28787. Te slogan for the Avon Walk


for Breast Cancer is “In it to end it”. Avon Foundation was estab- lished in 1955 to improve the lives of women, focusing today on breast cancer and domestic violence. In North and South Carolina alone, they have contributed $12.3 mil- lion to fund research.


p: 645-6300 f: 645-0065


9 Georgia Avenue “Just off Main Street” Weaverville, North Carolina www.brankinsurance.com


We insure mobile homes! October 14 - October 20, 2010 - THE TRIBUNE/LEADER 5


CalvaryWorship Center


Proclaiming the Power of Pentecost


A church where you will be loved as you are but changed by the Lord Jesus Christ.


Sunday: Sunday School 10 am MorningWorship 11 am EveningWorship 6 pm


Wednesday: Kids & Youth Ministry 6:30 pm Adult Bible Study 6:45 pm


Pastor Ron Dodson invites you to an awesome worship experience!


101 Calvary Drive, Marshall, NC 28753 For more information call 828.649.1073


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