Avery Sontheimer
CHAPTER 1: AVERY'S STORY
Avery is thirteen year old Corry native. She was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma on 7/17/20. She has tumors in her pelvis, spinal cord, and lungs. Avery has received endless rounds of chemotherapy and radiation at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Even with treatment, she has continued to raise money and donate to various animal shelters around the United States. On April 17th, $4,055 was raised and given to Avery through the Miles for Malignancy Marathon.
CHAPTER 2: BROOKLYNE'S STORY
Brooklyne Shambaugh
At 10 months old Brooklyne was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Acute Myeloid Leukemia is an aggressive cancer of the blood. Brooklyne’s treatment plan started off as four rounds of chemotherapy and then a bone marrow transplant. Then came two more rounds of aggressive chemotherapy, until all options were exhausted at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. A trial option was chosen at Cincinnati's Children Hospital, and was not successful. Brooklyne persevered. It wasn’t until another trial brought the family back to the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, a place they all considered “home”. At some point, late in her treatment, Brooklyne developed a fungal infection in her lungs that ultimately took her life December 5th, 2019.
After an 8 month battle, Brooklyne’s happily ever after came to an end, but her legacy lives on. On May 22, $2,115 was raised and given to Brooklyne's Beacons to honor the life and legacy of their daughter Brooklyne.
CHAPTER 3: NICK'S STORY
Nick Upperman
My name is Nick Upperman, and I am 32 years old. I am a father of four, and live with my significant other. It all started as some stomach issues I ignored. Then came the 60 lb. weight loss over 5-6 months. After 2 CT scans, an MRI, and a colonoscopy, I finally found my answers. On March 28, 2022, I discovered I had stage 3 colon/rectal cancer, with a malignant tumor 10 cm long and 4 inches wide. Since uncommon, I went through genetic testing to discover I had Lynch Syndrome, a type of genetic mutation that now makes me predisposed to several different types of other cancers.
Since being diagnosed, I have underwent Immunotherapy called Keytruda. It has used my own immune system to help successfully shrink my tumor in half, and has stopped it from growing. Soon I will be starting 5 rounds of chemotherapy, followed by surgery. On May 6, 2023 $2,610 was raised and given to Nick to honor his battle.
CHAPTER 4: MICHELE'S STORY
My name is Michele Corsi; I was born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania. I have lived in this city my entire life. I am a unit secretary at Saint Vincent Hospital in the CNICU, and have been there for 6.5 years.
In April of 2022, I noticed a palpable lump in my breast. It led me to get further testing. Not long after, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. To start, my treatment consisted of chemotherapy every three weeks. Then followed my mastectomy. To finish, I had to get additional rounds of chemotherapy every three weeks, and thankfully, with fewer medications. I had a fantastic team at the AHN Cancer Center every single time, and all thanks to my incredible surgeon, I healed quickly! I finally found out that I was cancer-free in November 2022 and finished my chemotherapy last June. It was June 7th that I proudly got to say I kicked cancer's butt and rang the bell.
Throughout my experience, one of the hardest things I did not understand was how much my taste changed. That was a big struggle for me as I no longer had an interest in the things I enjoyed so much. I also struggled with how tired I was through it all. It began to feel as if I was missing out on so much in my life.
This experience has been a challenge, but has left me with the uttermost gratitude. I am incredibly grateful for my entire treatment team, who guided me every single step of the way. They always had a smile on their face and were supportive. I am most thankful for my family and friends, as I appreciate them more than I can ever put into words.
The advice I want to leave others going through a battle of their own is no matter how much you want to give up, know you can rely on the people around you. A positive mindset goes a long way. Having a positive attitude and outlook is essential! Believe in yourself and know you can do it. Also, know it is okay to rely on people and ask for help when needed. Lastly, remember that change is part of the process, and try to accept it the best you can.
In June, $800 dollars was raised to honor Michele and her battle with breast cancer.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: JILLIAN'S STORY
My name is Jillian, and I grew up in Corry, Pennsylvania. I attended Corry Area High School and graduated in 2016. I continued my education at Penn State Behrend, where I was a part of the Women's Softball team and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Over the years, I have continued my education by obtaining a Bachelor's and Master's of Science in Nursing from Thomas Jefferson University. Currently, I am a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner.
In 2012, my mother was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. My sister and I spent countless hours at the Regional Cancer Center throughout her treatment. Throughout the conversation, we learned of so many people who couldn't even afford their treatment, let alone a ride to it. It inspired us to lend a helping hand.
Together we created Cancer Awareness Week. We raised awareness of various types of cancer, with the help of our community. Our donations went to the Susan G. Komen foundation and the Regional Cancer Center of Erie.
Over the years, I have continued to raise awareness and help local families who were suffering from cancer and other types of illnesses. Throughout my experiences in the medical field, I have not only seen the negative side effects of cancer and heard personal testimonies of those suffering, but I have also lived it with my own family. Cancer hits home for me, as I have personally experienced and seen the toll that it can leave behind. The only thing that has gotten me through is God and my love for exercise. Over the years I have learned how to use running and weight lifting as coping mechanisms. They have become a passion of mine, just as it is to continue to show God's love and help those less fortunate. In 2020, I finally decided to combine the two and founded Miles for Malignancy.
HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?
Every year Miles for Malignancy will help a local family in need affected by cancer, and host a run in their honor. To nominate a family, submit a response below!
THERE IS NO BETTER GIFT THAN GIVING.
Over the years, with the help of the community, Miles for Malignancy has given roughly $10,000 to local individuals suffering from cancer and their families. Thank you again to all the local businesses and individuals who have rallied behind our neighbors and helped them in their time of need.
GET IN TOUCH
Questions, comments or suggestions? I’d love to hear from you, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Miles for Malignancy will continue every year to run and raise money for a local family suffering from cancer. To nominate a local family in need, submit a response here! I look forward to hearing from you.
M4M is proudly sponsored by The Corry Journal. A special thank you to The Corry Journal for all you do for the community!