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Goemans sponsor Survivor Madison team in Race for the Cure event
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By ELISA SAND, Staff Reporter
| 09/24/2009 |
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Cheryl Goeman sits with her husband Rod at a recent family gathering. She has just completed treatment for breast cancer and has organized a team for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Sunday in Vermillion.
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Goeman has put together a team called Survivor Madison that is in the final days of fund-raising for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, which will be held on Sunday in Vermillion.
The race includes a one-mile fun run/walk at 9:10 a.m. and a 5K run/walk at 9:30 a.m. The Susan G. Komen Foundation strives to use the funds raised directly for researching a cure for breast cancer -- something Goeman sincerely hopes can be accomplished.
"I saw an ad on TV, and I thought we should do it," Goeman said.
She has spent the past year going through cancer treatment. Doctors discovered a tumor during a routine mammogram; she then had surgery, six sessions of chemotherapy and 33 radiation treatments. She follows up with her doctors on Oct. 2.
Although physically draining, she said, the hardest part of the treatment was coping with her hair loss, which included her eyebrows and other body hair.
Goeman's husband Rod said the hair loss was a good sign as far as doctors were concerned; it meant the treatment was working, he said.
And, it was only temporary. Still quite short, her hair is returning now that treatments are finished.
Goeman was surprised by the support she received.
"I was surprised with the number of people who wanted to help," she said. "I had a lot of people offer to help."
She admits, however, that it was hard for her to ask for help.
Because of her family's history, Goeman said, she knew breast cancer treatment was something she would probably face. Her mother died 23 years ago after battling the disease.
Someday, she hopes researchers are successful and treatment is as simple as a daily pill. Until that happens, she said, research needs to continue.
Goeman feels fortunate because her cancer was caught early, and it was a type that was more easily treatable -- ductal carcinoma. At the same time, she feels guilty "because people have it worse than I do," she said.
Joining them on the Survivor Madison team are their children, Jenessa and Jordan Goeman, Andrew and Melanie Kuyper, Karen Mathison, Jeanine Rogers, Bill Sturgeon and Lindsey Cauwels.
Their fund-raising goal was initially $1,000. Rod Goeman said that amount continues to increase as the team surpasses each goal set before them. The goal now sits at $3,500. As of Tuesday afternoon, the team was 91 percent of the way toward reaching the goal and was the second-highest fund-raising team for Sunday's event.
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