Star Group Veterans Helping Veterans, hosted a three part Event honoring Cancer Survivors, Memorialized those gone and Thank Veterans for their sacrifice for our Freedom… Happy Independence those at our headquarters in Copperas Cove.
It was the organization’s first in-person event since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
June is National Cancer Survivors Month, and a few cancer survivors were in attendance to share their stories and be honored by the organization.
Mr John Cook organized the lunch for cancer survivors and also sits on the advisory council for the Star Group Veterans Helping Veterans organization. “The Event means a lot to me because a lot of people don’t know the story of cancer survivors,” Cook said. “We want people to know that a lot of cancer survivors are still here, and we want to keep them in our prayers and honor them. It feels so great to have our first in person event again.”
We were very fortunate to have three awesome speakers, in Ms McKinney, Ms Mims and Ms White share their Cancer Journey.
Ms. Avis White was first diagnosed with cancer in 1994, and then again in September 2012, when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 capillary thyroid cancer, and just two months after that, she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. “I have been cancer free for about three and a half years,” White said at the luncheon. “I have bouts with fatigue, but that comes with the territory, but these cancers were survivable; it just how you choose to live the rest of your life. She said she celebrates Every Day as her birthday♥️
Ms. Barbara Mims shared her journey which was complicated y her father being diagnosed and passing away months later with the same type of cancer. Mims was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2003. After surgery to remove the caner, she received a clean bill of health in 2004. Her father was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2004 - on the same day she told him her cancer was gone. He away the following year.
Ms. Vivian McKinney, a breast cancer survivor, shared “I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2005, and now have been a survivor for almost 16 years,” McKinney said. “It is great that they held this lunch for survivors, but it is also to get the word out for people to know what they need to do, because it can happen to anybody at anytime. “You don’t fully understand until it happens to you. She commended Darnall Army Medical Hospital for everything they did for her. In the month of October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I wear pink every day.”
Mr. Gregory Johnson, one of Bell County’s justices of the peace, attended to show support. “It was a great opportunity for me to come and show support for this great organization: Star Group Veterans Helping Veterans,” Johnson said. “They are one the premier nonprofit veterans community service organizations in this area, and they go above and beyond to help veterans. It is also great to come out listen to some of these survivors who have overcome so much.”
Sheila Timmons, the executive director of the organization, offered her thoughts on the event. “It is great to be able to do events again and see smiles on people’s faces she said. Many of the group’s big events, such as for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, were canceled this year and last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.