‘We need to find a cure’ Virginia Beach Fire joins Crush Cancer fundraiser
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – Crush Cancer Hampton Roads kicked off this morning at the Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club.
Cycle for survival hopes to raise $250,000 for the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center research and clinical trials.
VB firefighters join Crush Cancer cause
For the first time, Virginia Beach firefighters are joining the effort. Organizers of the annual fundraiser including, Councilwoman Rosemary Wilson surprised the Virginia Beach firefighters with a special stationary bicycle that resembles a firetruck.
“Firefighters are at a much higher risk of getting cancer,” said Capt. Max Gonano, President of the Virginia Beach International Association of Fire Fighters. “Cancer is the number one killer of firefighters for the line of duty deaths. We want to spread the word as much as possible.”
This fundraiser has grown every year since its inception in 2015. Virginia Rountree is a faithful attendee representing ‘Team Tree’ affectionally named after her late husband William Rountree.
“He fought it for 21 years, said Rountree. “It [was] a rare form of carcinoma. It started behind the eye and then just eventually spread across his body to where the cancer actually grew outside his chest.”
John Sanderl is cycling for a cure for pediatric cancer in honor of his grandson, Landon. The sixth grader was the Crush Cancer 2017 ambassador.
An honorary stationary bicycle covered with a dragon sits up front ‘In memory of Landon.’
“It’s hard to keep back the tears. We just remember him all the time. This is a great event to remember him and to honor him, said Sanderl. “Landon was 12 when he passed away, and there’s just too many kids that are sick and dying from cancer.”
Cycle for Survival: Landon’s Story
OneLife Fitness instructor Camilla Walk attends the fundraiser for her daughter.
“This is very dear to my heart because when my daughter was 11, she was diagnosed with lymphoma. I watched her go through that struggle. I just don’t want any other parents to ever have to go through that. I do this for her, this is the day I dedicate to her,” said Walk. “My daughter now is a dermatologist. She is a survivor. If it wasn’t for the research that story might have turned out a little differently.”
Walk is also an anatomy and physiology teacher at Princess Anne High School.
“I teach about cancer. I make it a service-learning project for them as well, so they can come out and see the personal side of cancer rather than just the biological side,” said Walk. “There’s so many people and so many names that the list gets bigger. I want that list to go in the other direction. We need to find a cure.”
10 On Your Side’s Andy Fox has championed this event every year since 2016.
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