June Booth
2023 Champion - 2023 Champion - Team Horse
My son, Neal Chastain, was such fun as a young boy he entertained the family with his magic and yo-yo tricks, mimicking voices, and was a fierce competitor when it came to card and board games and most often won. From an early age when he realized money purchased items he had many projects that brought him financial gain. In elementary school he was elected to attend a week long day camp at Wake Forest. I think this is where he fell in love with Wake. In his junior year at Wake he was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. From day one the oncologist told us it was the most difficult to treat in a young adult. He clearly said we would be lucky if we had 2 years with treatment. We only got 11 months. He was initially treated at Presbyterian Hospital (now Novant) here in Charlotte. Not being able to get him in remission we were transferred to N.C. Baptist Hospital (now Wake Forest Medical Center) in Winston. It was early spring before he was in remission. He was able to return to the first session of summer school at Wake. In October of 1985 he entered John's Hopkins Hospital for a bone marrow transplant. Post-transplant he developed an aspergillus fungal infection and the most powerful antibiotics could not eradicate it. He died on November 11, 1985, and he was buried on November 14th, which was 22nd birthday. We established the Neal Monroe Chastain Scholarship in the Business School in 1987. In 2014 Neal's story was featured in the First Report of the Wake Will campaign, which you can read online or in print!
Catherine Clawson
2023 Champion - 2023 Champion - Team Cactus
I was diagnosed with breast cancer on January 6, 2017. I was 48 years old. I chose to have a double mastectomy because I never wanted to have another mammogram for the rest of my life! My all-female team of doctors at Wake were amazing! They told me it would be a year-long process and it was - from the initial surgery, to chemo, then radiation and finally reconstructive surgery, it was almost exactly a year. Being a research hospital, Wake is on top of new innovations in cancer treatment. For instance, Wake was one of the few hospitals in the country offering the ‘cold cap’ to prevent hair loss during chemo. I just celebrated my 5-year “Cancerversary” and I will be forever grateful for the care I received at Wake Baptist.
Julie Davis-Colan
2023 Champion - 2023 Champion - Team Barn
I have been blessed in my journey! In March 2022, from a routine mammogram, I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. I did not want surgery immediately as I had a Wake Forest graduation for my daughter, Lexi (she was also one of the 2022 WNS directors), a pandemic postponed family trip to Spain and Portugal and some other time-sensitive activities on the books. As such, my amazing docs gave me a chance to experience a new (in applied research stage) immunotherapy pill. It worked like magic and reduced my tumor 60%, while still maintaining a regular life and allowing me to go on an extraordinary trip to Europe. Research even helped me stay pain-free after surgery. Research showed that if the pain block, Exparel, was given in the surgery room but before surgery (vs. during or after surgery), that the pain-brain connection said “no pain”. As a result, I have never experienced any pain from the surgeries! Guided by state-of-the-art docs, surgery and care based on research and my faith, I am doing great!
Ben Miller
2023 Champion - 2023 Champion - Team Cowboy Boot
My name is Ben Miller and I am a Hodgkins Lymphoma survivor. After weeks of night sweats and weight loss during the start of my freshman year spring semester, I decided to go to Student Health. Expecting to be told that I had pneumonia, at worst, I remember sitting there in complete shock as I was told that the chest x-ray had found a 10cm tumor in front of my heart. From there, it was nearly a month of scans and surgeries before I was officially diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, a rare type of blood cancer. 6 months of chemotherapy later, my oncologist was finally able to tell me that I was in remission. That year was the hardest of my life, but it taught me the importance of never taking the moments that I do have for granted. I am also incredibly grateful to everyone who supported me throughout my experience and to all the fantastic doctors and nurses at both the Wake Baptist and Northwestern cancer centers. Cancer is an awful disease that forces everyone it touches into an incredibly difficult battle. However, by raising money for cancer research, Wake 'N Shake helps fund innovation that eases the burden of that battle for cancer patients, and I am proud to be a speaker at this year's event.
Margie Milner
2023 Champion - 2023 Champion - Team Cow
I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer in April 2018; have a family history of breast cancer and my grandmother died from it. I found a 7 mm tumor that was so tiny and hard and superficial. I could feel it right on top of my rib. I had to go through tons of testing and honestly, those are my worst memories....the waiting. I found out in June 2018, after the surgery to remove the tumor and after the lymph node biopsies, that the cancer had spread; I had stage 2 breast cancer in the end. My prognosis with treatment was very good, like 91-96% survival. I had a second surgery to place a port in my chest for chemotherapy. I underwent 5 months of chemotherapy, losing all of my hair. I then went through several weeks of radiation therapy. Then to reduce the estrogen in my body (because my type of cancer fed on estrogen) I had a third surgery to remove my ovaries. Now I'm taking an oral medication to further reduce the estrogen in my body and will be on this drug for 1 more year at least. I am considered a survivor for 4 years now.
Beth Robbins
2023 Champion - 2023 Champion - Team Cowboy Hat
I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, the most common form of breast cancer, at 41 years old in April of 2019. I have had a double mastectomy, reconstructive surgery, 3 months of chemotherapy. I am now in my 3rd year of hormone suppression therapy to try to prevent a recurrence.
Connor Robinson
2023 Champion - 2023 Champion - Team Horseshoe
I was born with neuroblastoma, but it went missed and undiagnosed in the hospital at birth. My heart rate was too high, about 180, and I was rushed to the hospital at three weeks old as a result. I was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, with a tumor hitting my spine, lungs, and heart. We had to find a special surgeon who could perform on me because I was a very young and rare case. I had two surgeries to remove the tumor and slowly recovered. I then developed scoliosis and lung issues, but survived. I had gone in and out of the hospital my whole childhood for complications, but I made it out!
June Booth
2022 Champion - Team Crab
My son, Neal Chastain, was such fun as a young boy he entertained the family with his magic and yo-yo tricks, mimicking voices, and was a fierce competitor when it came to card and board games and most often won. From an early age when he realized money purchased items he had many projects that brought him financial gain. In elementary school he was elected to attend a week long day camp at Wake Forest. I think this is where he fell in love with Wake. In his junior year at Wake he was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. From day one the oncologist told us it was the most difficult to treat in a young adult. He clearly said we would be lucky if we had 2 years with treatment. We only got 11 months. He was initially treated at Presbyterian Hospital (now Novant) here in Charlotte. Not being able to get him in remission we were transferred to N.C.Baptist Hospital (now Wake Forest Medical Center) in Winston. It was early spring before he was in remission. He was able to return to the first session of summer school at Wake. In October of 1985 he entered John's Hopkins Hospital for a bone marrow transplant.Post transplant he developed an aspergillus fungal infection and the most powerful antibiotics could not eradicate it. He died on Nov.11,1985 He was buried on Nov.14th his 22nd birthday. We established the Neal Monroe Chastain Scholarship in the Business School in 1987. In 2014 Neal's story was featured in the First Report of the Wake Will campaign, which you can read online.
Neal Chastain
2022 Champion - Team Pelican
This year, we will be honoring Neal Chastain, a Wake Forest business student, who was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia during his junior year. On November 11, 1985, Neal died, just three days before his 22nd birthday. His mother, June Booth, will be speaking on his behalf.
Catherine Clawson
2022 Champion - Team Seagull
I was diagnosed with breast cancer on January 6, 2017. I was 48 years old. I chose to have a double mastectomy because I never wanted to have another mammogram for the rest of my life! My all-female team of doctors at Wake were amazing! They told me it would be a year-long process and it was - from the initial surgery, to chemo, then radiation and finally reconstructive surgery, it was almost exactly a year. Being a research hospital, Wake is on top of new innovations in cancer treatment. I was able to use a ‘cold cap’ during chemo so I didn’t lose most of my hair. I just celebrated my 5-year “Cancerversary” and I will be forever grateful for the care I received at Wake Baptist.
Jennifer Frazer
2022 Champion - Team Sand Dollar
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in January of 2019. At first I was told I would just have some surgery and then have radiation. By the time I went to see the Dr. to discuss my plan more labs had come back and it was found that I was HER2 Positive. HER2 Positive is a breast cancer that tests positive for a human growth factor that makes it more aggressive and can cause the cancer to quickly become metastatic. Luckily a drug had been developed to target this cancer in the last 12 years. I had 2 friends that had developed this type of breast cancer before there were targeted drugs. They have both passed away. I consider myself extremely lucky and grateful to research and science! I had a lumpectomy because HER2positive patients have a higher chance of their cancer spreading to another part in their body than back to their breasts. I took 6 weeks of recovery and then started chemotherapy. I had chemotherapy every week for 12 weeks. With the chemo I would get the special drug for the HER2 “Herceptin”. Loved that stuff! I won’t tell you chemo wasn’t hard and depressing but I had my family and friends helping me out and entertaining me. I would have a different friend go with me every time. The nurses were fabulous. People would bring them chocolate and cookies. I would bring them wheatgrass shots and we would all down them. I have a friend that is a holistic nutritionist and she would make me smoothies and give me advice. This was also an emotional time as my youngest child (Alex) was about to graduate. He had gotten into his school of choice (Wake Forest) but he was going to be far from Chicago. Watching him make the graduation speech while I was wearing a headscarf was not exactly how I had pictured things. I was given another reprieve of a month and then headed into 12 weeks of radiation for the summer. Radiation was fine the first four weeks other than being tired. The last eight weeks just really did a number on me.I think from going through chemo first I was already knocked down a bit and then the radiation just goes in your bones and does a number. You go 5 days a week for 12 weeks and you are not supposed to miss a day. When it was time for Alex to go to college, I was not able to miss a day and couldn’t join Alex and my husband on the drive to WFU. The doctors did let me miss one day and I flew down for part of the freshman orientation weekend. I was NOT happy about this! Immediately after I had stopped chemo I continued going to the infusion room every three weeks to get the Herceptin drug to battle the HER2 cancer. I would receive it for a full year. I really didn’t mind this at all as I would get to catch up with my nurse friends in the chemo room. I would only have to stay now about an hour. Once my year was up I switched to a breast cancer oral drug that I take for 5 years to prevent the cancer from coming back. Not a day goes by that I am not grateful for my health. I am ever so thankful for the people that created the drugs I used that saved my life.Thanks to all of you for raising money to benefit this cause!
Suzanne Katchmar
2022 Champion - Team Seahorse
Well, being a trial lawyer, especially a criminal defense lawyer, one can be very Type A. I never made time for my health, always assuming whatever it was would eventually go away. In 2010, I started to have a persistent cough. Living in Colorado since 1998, I had gotten bronchitis every year, so treated it the same way. However, after 5 months and one 3 week jury trial where the judge literally threw cough drops at me in front of the jury, I figured it was time to see the doctor. In January 2011, I was diagnoses with chronic pneumonia. By March 2011, I was losing weight (never a bad thing in my mind), and started to buy smaller clothes. I went into another 3 week jury trial feeling thin and great, except for that cough. The first day of trial, while out to dinner, I passed out and hit my head on a concrete floor. Sign 3 (sign 1 cough, sign 2 weight loss). By the end of week one, my co-counsel mentioned that I looked greenish. My husband said it looked like I had lumps around my neck (signs 4 and 5 - discoloration and inflamed lymph nodes). So, that Saturday, I went into the doctor. Now, I am the WORST patient, so I was rather….surly, explaining that I did not have time to be sick, to just give me some advice so I could go and finish saving the world. Well, he advised that I get my blood work done. It was just advice, so I did not do it. By the end of the second week of trial we were getting ready to do closing arguments, and the night before, I passed out again at dinner. So, I went to the hospital, had a blood transfusion, was told to stay for 2 days, but checked out that morning to do closing arguments. My co-counsel had no idea. But then, as the jury went out, I knew that something was wrong (yeah, late to the party). I drove over to the ER, and after an emergency bone marrow extraction and test, was scheduled to have a lymph node removed the next day. On June 30, 2011, sitting next to my hero, the love of my life, I learned that I had Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and I needed to write my will. On July 1, 2011, I started 6 months of chemo, once a day every week for 6 months, 4 to 5 hours at a time, in a chemo ward that looked like something out of science fiction. Well, on December 18, 2011, I walked out of that damn chemo ward for GOOD. I moved back to Virginia Beach in January 2012, and I have lived one block from the beach ever since. Not looking back.
Margie Milner
2022 Champion - Team Sea Turtle
I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer in April 2018; have a family history of breast cancer and my grandmother died from it. I found a 7 mm tumor that was so tiny and hard and superficial. I could feel it right on top of my rib. I had to go through tons of testing and honestly, those are my worst memories....the waiting. I found out in June 2018, after the surgery to remove the tumor and after the lymph node biopsies, that the cancer had spread; I had stage 2 breast cancer in the end. My prognosis with treatment was very good, like 91-96% survival. I had a second surgery to place a port in my chest for chemotherapy. I underwent 5 months of chemotherapy, losing all of my hair. I went through a procedure to remove my port. I then went through several weeks of radiation therapy. Then to reduce the estrogen in my body (because my type of cancer fed on estrogen) I had a third surgery to remove my ovaries. Now I'm taking an oral medication to further reduce the estrogen in my body and will be on this drug for 2-5 more years. I am considered a survivor for 3 years now.
Gabrielle Peko
2022 Champion - Team Starfish
I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when I was 5 months old. There were no obvious symptoms: no cough, no recurrent infections or fatigue, no fevers, no weight loss. I was what everyone would seem to agree was a healthy baby. However, one day my mom noticed red bumps (petechiae) on the top of my head and decided to get them biopsied. When the results came back, my parents were told their baby had three weeks to live. After months of chemotherapy treatments and various surgeries, I was finally cancer free. My fight wouldn’t have been possible without the constant support and love from my parents and the rest of my family, and the hard work of determined doctors and nurses. For that, I am forever grateful. Cancer is a terrible disease, but because of it I have had the opportunity to meet some of the most incredible people in the world. Not everyone that I have had the privilege to call a friend has won their battle, but they have all made a lasting and immeasurable impact on myself and the countless lives of others. They showed me what it truly means to fight, to be courageous, to be fearless. Everyone will face a battle at some point in their life, and if my experience with cancer has taught me anything, it's to always keep your chin up and fight like hell, no matter what.
Nancy Wyrick
2022 Champion - Team Jellyfish
I am a three time cancer survivor. All three were different types and I am blessed that each was caught early due to routine preventative exams. I have been married for 31 years, have a 21 year old daughter and live in Salisbury, NC. My favorite things to do are being with family and life-long girlfriends, cheering on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, being outside and creating beautiful outdoor spaces with plants and flowers.
Leslie Burke
2021 Champion - Team Blue
I am a breast cancer survivor! My cancer journey was fairly typical: poison it (Chemo), burn it (radiation) and cut it out (surgery). I completed treatment last Sept and have not looked back!
Dave Dubin
2021 Champion - Team Green
My genes don’t define me. I am AliveAndKickn. Pretty bold statement. AliveAndKickn is more than just a name. It’s a way of life. I joke that Lynch syndrome is the genetic predisposition to colon cancer, endometrial cancer, other cancers…and soccer. But that’s just me. Besides half a dozen surgeries since 1997, I have and still play the game I love. You may find your own game, or hobby, or solace in something that can help you in your day. Lynch Syndrome, other hereditary cancers, even other disorders are difficult to absorb and overcome. We’re here for you. We are looking to make a difference for you and others, both current and future with hereditary cancer. Part of that is helping you navigate the system, offer insights into options, share a smile, look for research trials, but most importantly, aggregate pertinent data to research potential cures. Genetics is taking huge strides almost every day. Precision medicine, immunotherapy and gene sequencing are the future. We thank you for being a part of our lives. I’m humbled to be part of yours. Be resilient. Be AliveAndKickn!
Jen Eby
2021 Champion - Team Purple
I am a 7 year Stage 3 breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed on 11/12/13 after feeling a lump in my left armpit. That lump turned out to be nothing, but the radiologist found something on my right side. In January 2014, I had a double mastectomy and more than 20 lymph nodes removed. My chemo treatment began about 6 weeks later followed by reconstruction and then radiation. I take Tomoxifin because I had a hormone-receptive type of breast cancer.
Jennifer Frazer
2021 Champion - Team Orange
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in January of 2019. At first, I was told I would just have some surgery and then have radiation. By the time I went to see the doctor to discuss my plan more labs had come back and it was found that I was HER2 positive. HER2 Positive is a breast cancer that tests positive for a human growth factor that makes it more aggressive and can cause the cancer to quickly become metastatic. Luckily a drug had been developed to target this cancer in the last 12 years. I had 2 friends that had developed this type of breast cancer before there were targeted drugs. They have both passed away. I consider myself extremely lucky and grateful to research and science! I had a lumpectomy because HER2positive patients have a higher chance of their cancer spreading to another part of their body than back to their breasts. I took 6 weeks of recovery and then started chemotherapy. I had chemotherapy every week for 12 weeks. With the chemo, I would get the special drug for the HER2 “Herceptin”. Loved that stuff! I won’t tell you chemo wasn’t hard and depressing but I had my family and friends helping me out and entertaining me. I would have a different friend go with me every time. The nurses were fabulous. People would bring them chocolate and cookies. I would bring them wheatgrass shots and we would all down them. I have a friend that is a holistic nutritionist and she would make me smoothies and give me advice. This was also an emotional time as my youngest child (Alex) was about to graduate. He had gotten into his school of choice (Wake Forest) but he was going to be far from Chicago. Watching him make the graduation speech while I was wearing a headscarf was not exactly how I had pictured things. I was given another reprieve of a month and then headed into 12 weeks of radiation for the summer. Radiation was fine the first four weeks other than being tired. The last eight weeks just really did a number on me. I think from going through chemo first I was already knocked down a bit and then the radiation just goes in your bones and does a number. You go 5 days a week for 12 weeks and you are not supposed to miss a day. When it was time for Alex to go to college, I was not able to miss a day and couldn’t join Alex and my husband on the drive to WFU. The doctors did let me miss one day and I flew down for part of the freshman orientation weekend. I was NOT happy about this! Immediately after I had stopped chemo I continued going to the infusion room every three weeks to get the Herceptin drug to battle the HER2 cancer. I would receive it for a full year. I really didn’t mind this at all as I would get to catch up with my nurse friends in the chemo room. I would only have to stay now about an hour. Once my year was up I switched to a breast cancer oral drug that I take for 5 years to prevent the cancer from coming back. Not a day goes by that I am not grateful for my health. I am ever so thankful for the people that created the drugs I used that saved my life. Thanks to all of you for raising money to benefit this cause!
Jack Rolle
2021 Champion - Team Red
I got diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor in 2009, and I am a cancer survivor.
Ella Ryan
2021 Champion - Team White
Ella was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on March 9th, 2018. She was 2 years old. Her parents were completely blindsided. Four months into chemotherapy, she was admitted to the hospital for treatment. She was classified as malnourished and had to get a nasogastric tube placed, having it for 15 months. She also had a very serious liver disease develop because of the treatment, where her liver stopped functioning. They gave her a miracle drug that was just recently available and it saved her life. She finished treatment in June of 2020.
Jim Calhoun
2020 Champion - Team Orange
Despite there being no history of the disease in his immediate family, and despite working out every day for more than 50 years, Jim Calhoun has had multiple battles with Cancer - prostate, head and neck (squamous cell carcinoma) lung and stomach. Today he is proud to be cancer free today! In his free time, he likes to spend time with his family, play golf, read books and watch Broadway plays. He has 2 granddaughters at Wake Forest and has won more than 900 college basketball games!
Kent Gitter
2020 Champion - Team Tree Frog
Kent Gitter is the father of WFU student Tilson Gitter, he oldest of his three children. She has a younger brother who is a freshman in high school, and a younger sister Ellie who will be joining Tilson WFU next fall. Kent lives in Durham NC, and works with Baker Roofing in Raleigh. Kent manages two departments: one that builds Green Roofs, and the other that restores and repairs aging and leaking buildings.Kent was born in Winston-Salem and graduated from Reynolds High School not far from WFU. He used to live within walking distance to campus, was a season ticket holder to WFU football and basketball. Kent also used to spend a lot of time with his friends playing football on the campus practice fields. On New Year’s Eve of 2015, he was told that a lump that he had noticed on his inner thigh was a moderately aggressive liposarcoma, a malignant cancer that targets fatty tissues. Kent was treated with a month of radiation and in April of 2016 surgery removed the area from his leg. Upon several follow up visits and scans Kent is relieved and thankful to say that he is cancer free.
Lisa LaRoque
2020 Champion - Team Elephant
Lisa LaRoque was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in June 2018. I had a double mastectomy and radiation, followed by hormone therapy. She was declared cancer free in December 2018 following the completion of 28 rounds of radiation. She lives in Sandy Springs, GA with her husband Kent. Together they have 6 children, 5 daughters and 1 son, and they have 5 granddaughters with #6 arriving in July 2020. Additionally they have a new Golden Retriever puppy, Sammy. Today, she loves to take Zumba, exercise, golf, swim, garden and read. Most importantly, she enjoys leading a guest services team at our church, North Point Community Church.
Sarah McAuley
2020 Champion - Team Sloth
My name is Sarah McAuley and I am a wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, and dog lover who was diagnosed with breast cancer nine and a half years ago. I live right here in Winston-Salem and work at an independent school near Wake Forest and tutor high school kids in the evenings. Walking my Puggle, hiking, traveling to the Tetons, and enjoying football games at my daughters’ colleges are some of my favorite things to do. In the fall of 2010, after having a clear mammogram 10 days prior, I felt a lump, rushed to my doctor, received many tests, and finally received confirmation that I was beginning a battle I never dreamed I would fight. After five surgeries, eight rounds of chemotherapy, 33 rounds of radiation, efforts from fabulous doctors and nurses, support from countless friends and family members, and soul-lifting love from my husband and daughters, I won my battle and was forever changed. The biggest lessons I learned while fighting cancer is to not sweat the small stuff, love your loved ones big, be genuine, and leave your little corner of the world better than you found it.
Angel Richards
2020 Champion - Team Leopard
Born in Queens, N.Y., Angel and his three siblings moved to Greensboro with their mother, Shellbe in pursuit of a quieter environment. Just a little while after moving down south, the normally energetic Angel began suffering from fevers, complained of pains in his feet, and there were strange “bumps” on his body. Shellbe originally thought they were mosquito bites. In October of 2017, doctors at Brenner diagnosed Angel with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Angel completed his treatment and has been declared no evidence of disease! Back to his energetic ways, Angel loves to play basketball and follow his favorite stars.
Andy Tuttle
2020 Champion - Team Iguana
Andy Tuttle is the Director of Students and Family Ministries at Mount Tabor UMC in Winston Salem. He and his wife Kim have four children—Tyler(21), Taylor(21), Caleb(18), and Christian(10). He also has two black lab mix dogs, Rascal and Oreo. Andy is a class of 2000 graduate of the University of North Carolina in Greensboro with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Marketing. During his time in college, Andy felt the call to build the church and not a business. His heart for teens connects to his call to go into ministry. Andy brings a multitude of experience in youth ministry(over 20 years) and a heart for serving youth, the church, and the community. Andy has an interest in small group ministry and helping youth feel connected with and integrated into the church. A believer in local missions, Andy also strives to serve the local community through partnering with schools, nursing home visits, and service to the homeless. Andy also shares the vision of growing leaders within the church’s youth program. He loves the lake, to travel with friends and family, and play games. Andy is also a cancer survivor. In May of 2015 he was diagnosed with a rare cancer attacking his brain stem called achondrosarcoma. Andy underwent major surgery at Duke hospital removing the tumor. Two month rough road of recovery followed with a sixth nerve palsy and an eye patch. Fully dependent on others to help with the simplest of tasks. Then Andy was sent to Mass General Hospital in Boston, MA for two months of proton radiation therapy. He returned home to NC with clear scans. Andy has regular visits with a Wake Forest Baptist Endocrinologist and is still cancer free.
EmmaLee Watkins
2020 Champion - Team Parrot
EmmaLee, nicknamed Emmo, was diagnosed with B-Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) on January 17, 2015 at the age of twelve. She lives in Dallas, GA and works at Publix. She is currently in the eleventh grade, attending East Paulding High School. Some of her hobbies are cooking/baking, traveling (especially cruising), reading, driving, racing-Chase Elliot, and spending time with friends.
Philip Yurchenko
2020 Champion - Team Snake
Phillip Yurchenko is a senior BEM major from San Francisco, California. He enjoys photography, traveling, and hanging out with friends. Phillip was diagnosed with a metastatic brain tumor his sophomore year of high school. Quickly after the diagnosis, he had brain and back surgery. Because the cancer had spread from his brain to his spine, the doctors had difficulty removing the tumors, pushing Philip into a year of weekly chemotherapy (4 weeks on, 2 weeks off). The treatment stopped the tumors from growing but did not shrink them. Now, Phillip returns to have MRIs taken every six months to check on them.
Chris Boulton
2019 Champion - Team Fire Breather
Chris Boulton was born in New York City before moving to Chicago. In middle school, he moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Chris attended UNC Chapel Hill where studied Business and worked in the athletic department. In the summer of college, Chris worked at Disney World as a steamboat captain and briefly dated one of the seven dwarfs. After college, he worked at NBC, helping with shows like Saturday Night Live, the Olympics, and the Super Bowl. He and his wife, Susan, moved back to Chapel Hill where they had three children – Allie, Tyler, and Kat. Chris currently works in the legal division at SAS Institute and his Tar Heel wife works at the Duke Cancer Institute. Allie and Tyler live and work in Durham, NC and Kat is a Junior at Wake. In 2017, Chris was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Last summer, Chris had surgery to remove the cancer and shows no signs of recurrence. Since then, Chris has enjoyed spending time on his sailboat and walking with his golden retriever, Rooney, and pug, Pug.
Cindy Dunham
2019 Champion - Team Juggler
I am a North Carolina native, born in Burlington, NC. My initial professional training was in pharmacy. I received a BS and MS in pharmacy (there was no Pharm D program way back then). While teaching at UNC and working as a Clinical Pharmacist for the Nephrology service, my interests expanded beyond my job description, so I went back to Medical School at UNC for Internal Medicine training, I then completed a 3 year Fellowship at Duke in Nephrology and Hypertension. I have practiced with Carolina Kidney Associates in Greensboro, NC since 1991 and am looking forward to retirement from full time practice this year. My journey with breast cancer started in 2003 (at a time when my daughter was 13 and her Dad had just died the year before). I underwent mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. I was initially told I had a 50-50 change of being alive in 5 years. It was an incredibly difficult time for us. Well, I am currently 16 years beyond that diagnosis a long time though, at a very personal level, I was paralyzed by the overwhelming fear of recurrence. You could say I was alive, but not really living. About 10 years ago I had an “aha” moment, and I recognized that I needed to start really living. I lived to celebrate my daughter’s high school and college graduations, and her wedding to her wonderful husband Jonathan. She and I went to the summer Olympics in Beijing. I have flown in a helicopter, zip lined in Alaska, ice skated on Lake Louise, driven a snowmobile in the mountains of Golden BC, and most importantly rekindled my lifelong love for horses. The barn has become my “happy place“, and is where I have had the privilege of meeting and riding with McGee Bosworth who asked me to be a Champion this year. Every year I get a tattoo hash mark (I have 16 now) on my right arm to celebrate those years beyond a diagnosis of cancer, and to remind me how important it is to live every single minute of the life I have been given. In addition, being on the receiving end of medical treatment for a life threatening illness clearly made me a better doctor, a much more empathetic provider to my patients, all of whom have life changing if not life threatening problems. One of my favorite quotes “live well - love life - and do all things with kindness.“
Mimi Gallagher
2019 Champion - Team Trapeze
My name is Mimi Gallagher and I am a 7 year survivor of late stage ovarian cancer. To my complete surprise, I was diagnosed in 2012. I immediately underwent a difficult, yet very successful, 11 hour surgery to remove all of the cancer. 5 months of grueling chemotherapy followed. During the chemo, I lost all of my hair and was very sick. I completed my last treatment on 12/12/12….now my lucky number! The ovarian cancer survival statistics are very grim: 70 percent of late stage patients die within the first 5 years. This is in large part due to the fact that there are still no screening tools to find the cancer in its earliest stages. As a result, most women are diagnosed at a late stage when the cancer has spread. It is also a cancer that has a high recurrence rate, which often makes long term survival even harder to achieve. I am so grateful to live in the Boston area despite how much I hate the cold weather! Some of the best physicians and medical facilities are right in my backyard. As a result, I was, and still am, cared for by an amazing team of doctors. One thing cancer has taught me is to soak up all the joy life has to offer in both big and small ways. Long walks with the dogs on a sunny day. Vacationing on Hilton Head and Nantucket. Family dinners on the screened porch Although the journey from diagnosis, through treatment to health has been difficult, I can honestly say I am the luckiest of the unlucky!
Jesse Kyle
2019 Champion - Team Tightrope Walker
I'm a mom, a wife, and a singer. We're also new, pizza shop owners and I'm launching a bra line this year. So there's not much time for anything extra :). We are huge sports fans, so any free time is watching sports (or going to games in Philly when I sing the anthem) and of course spend as much time with our daughter, who is 10 years old. I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at age 16. I underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment. I was cancer free for 11 years and the cancer returned. I underwent chemotherapy and was cancer free for another 9 years. in 2009, the cancer returned and I had aggressive chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. I have been cancer free ever since! Fun facts.. let's see.... I'm a singer and that has allowed me to sing all over the world. I'm proud to have sung at the White House for President and Mrs. Bush, but my greatest thrill was to sing for Jeff & Tina Lurie's dinner (Philadelphia Eagles' owner) the night before Super Bowl 52. We won, by the way:). Little known tidbit...I didn't know until after the fact, but I was considered to replace PINK for the national anthem had she not been able to perform for the Super Bowl.
Rusty Triebert
2019 Champion - Team Human Cannonball
Rusty is from Morganton, North Carolina. The type of cancer he had was lymphoma, which means it attacked his bone marrow and stem cells, affecting his entire body rather than just one or two organs. In many ways he believes this was fortunate in that he didn't have to undergo radiation to a specific spot on his body, but he did have to endure massive amounts of chemo. Even then, in order to eradicate the cancerous cells from inside him, his doctor essentially had to kill all of his white blood cells and keep him in isolation for 28 days as she harvested new ones from him, grew them more in a clean lab, then replanted them intravenously back into him, which is what a “stem cell/bone marrow“ transplant is all about. He says though it was a nauseating experience, his system is essentially almost 4 years old, like a partially rebuilt engine in a car, and he still free and clear of the disease! Rusty doesn’t consider himself a champion or hero. Rather, he sees life as having to play the cards you’re dealt. Due to the absolutely amazing science and technology out there and available to his doctors at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, he is alive today. They, therefore, and by extension the entire medical community are the heros.
Kila Tripp
2019 Champion - Team Unicyclist
Kila Tripp is from Cincinnati, Ohio and is a senior at Wake Forest University studying Politics and Economics. On January 3rd 2012, as a freshman in high school, she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow that affects white blood cells. She and her family knew something was wrong when she fainted playing tennis over Christmas break. Her cancer had an Ikaros mutation which had only been discovered five years prior to her diagnosis. Following her diagnosis, she underwent nine chemotherapy drugs, countless medications to mitigate side effects, as well as radiation treatment for 2.5 years. All of these treatments were made possible through cancer research. This April she will be celebrating five years of being cancer free. Her cancer experience and her grandmother’s battle with cancer has motivated Kila to be very involved with Wake ‘N Shake while at Wake Forest. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her friends and family and traveling. From her own cancer journey, Kila has seen the positive impact from cancer research. She hopes that by raising money for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fun the threat of cancer can be eliminated and more birthdays can be celebrated. She is excited for her last time dancing at Wake ‘N Shake before she graduates and moves to Washington, D.C.") Champion.where(name:"Karly Billips").first_or_create!(team:"Team Stilt Walker", photo: open("#{Rails.root}/db/seeds/data/champion_images/karly_billips.JPG"), current:false, bio:"Karly Billips is from Greensboro, North Carolina and is a Senior at Northwest Guilford High school. She has been accepted and will be attending Appalachian State University in the Fall of 2020 after taking a gap year to work with an African Childrens choir from Uganda. On June 18th 2018, she was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of your lymphatic system, at 17 years of age. Karly began treatment on July 16th 2018 which would consist of 6 different types of chemo along with many other medications that would bring harsh side affects. Throughout her treatments Karly had many complications and underwent 2 blood infections and a port infection delaying her treatments. She finally finished and rang the bell on October 15th of 2018. Karly has just celebrated 6 months free of treatment and is thankful for each and every day. She truly believes that her journey would not have been made possible if it weren’t for the faith she has, the faith of her family, and the faithfulness of her church. During her journey Karly’s community supported her and her family constantly. Through her treatment she has realized the overwhelming importance of cancer research and has a new desire to help to raise money for support of research so that other kids will not have to go through the extensive journey that cancer encompasses. She desires to be part of Wake and Shake so that more people can be encouraged and see first hand affects of their efforts.
Lisl Windham
2019 Champion - Team Magician
The type of cancer I had was Breast Cancer, it was discovered during a routine mammogram when I was 45. There are no cancer risks in my family, so, I was not at all concerned when I was called back for a second look and then a biopsy. When we received the diagnosis, it truly shocked us both. I received a bilateral mastectomy on October 19, 2011. I have had at least 6 operations to reconstruct what cancer took away. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about it, and the way it has affected my family. I am an athlete, fitness trainer, Cyclebar Instructor, 2nd grade teacher, mommy to two wild teens and a wife to Chan, who I like to call Big Daddy. I have tried not to let this experience take away from the things I love to do, such as exercise and be strong, I have just had to learn different ways to do it. I live in Greenville, SC.
Cathy Chinlund
2018 Champion - Team Decade Of Dancing
Cathy Chinlund’s journey with breast cancer began in June 2006. She discovered a lump in her breast which was diagnosed as early stage 3 lobular cancer (which does not show up on a mammogram!) 8 rounds of chemo 2 weeks apart began several weeks later, followed by a bilateral mastectomy in November. Two weeks after the surgery, she fell (going into the WFU-Vanderbilt basketball game!) and broke her arm, which led to a 7 week delay in radiation because she couldn’t raise her arm high enough to get it out of the way for radiation. 30 treatments later she was allowed to 'rest' from treatments during the summer. Mid-fall reconstruction was interrupted by a car wreck that fractured her sternum from the impact of the air bag. That necessitated an additional surgery to replace the expander. But almost 2 years after diagnosis she was put back together again, and now almost 9 years later, she is cancer-free! Cathy has worked at Wake Forest almost 29 years, mostly in University Advancement, and loves music and college ministry. In fact, the small group she sings with at her church has sung the National Anthem at a WFU basketball game 13 times, and the Deacs are 11-2 when they have sung! She is blessed to have the love and support of her husband Skip, daughter Katie ’06, and lots of family and friends.
Judy Coalson
2018 Champion - Team Don’t Give Up
Judy Coalson’s journey with cancer began last January when she was working in a dental practice associated with Baptist hospital here in Winston and she complained of a crown cutting her tongue. After a biopsy, it was determined that she was in the early stages of oral cancer. By the time she had her first surgery, the cancer had already spread to the lymph nodes in her neck. She went through extensive radiation and chemotherapy and was declared cancer-free several months later. She had the opportunity to work with Take The Fight, an organization that helps patients undergoing treatment, and said this made her experience much easier and she made several close friends through the organization. Although she had to retire early after the chemotherapy took a toll on her health, she has now moved to Mt. Airy where she has made lots of new friends, stays busy, and gets to see her daughter frequently. She even got a Chihuahua named Bentley! Her favorite quote is “where there is love, there is hope”.
Cynthia Emory
2018 Champion - Team Just Shake It
I graduated Cum Laude from the University of Georgia in 2000 with a BS in Cellular Biology and BSEd in Exercise Sports Science and was an Honors Program participant. I went to medical school at the Medical College of Georgia and graduated in 2004. After medical school I moved to North Carolina where I completed an Orthopaedic Surgery residency at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. After residency I spent one year at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine for specialized training in Orthopaedic Oncology. Upon completing my fellowship I returned to join the faculty of Wake Forest School of Medicine in 2010. In addition to my clinical work, my area of research focuses on ways to prevent complications associated with radiation that patients receive as part of their treatment for cancer.
Gayle Guthrie
2018 Champion - Team Shakin’ Till Midnight
Gayle was diagnosed with malignant melanoma just before Thanksgiving in 2008. She was on an airplane headed somewhere across the US for work – clinical research, no less. Although her therapeutic area is oncology – she had no experience with melanoma and in the past had always dismissed it as something “they could just cut out”. Hearing the concern in her doctors’ voices, she knew this was not the case. Between November 2008 and March of 2014, she has had a lymphadenectomy, radiation, two small intestine resections, and treatment with ipilimumab. Suffering a side effect from “ipi” she was hospitalized for 51 days in the winter of 2014 and lost her colon (thus she calls herself a “semicolon”.) But today – this semicolon is cancer free! She was born and reared in Greensboro, NC, graduated from Meredith, taught high school biology in Northern Virginia and then in Wilmington, NC. She eventually left teaching and ended up in clinical research; in which she continues to work and loves! She married in 2013 and now resides in Mooresville, NC with a husband whom she met later in life and she says “He was worth the wait!”
Gator King
2018 Champion - Team What Do You Stand For?
Gator was born in 1952 in a small mining town named Mccoll, near the NC/SC line. From an early age he was fascinated by police officers and cars, and in June 1973 he began his 30 year career as a State Trooper. He retired in 2003 and moved with his wife, Stephanie, and his three children to Carroll County, VA. One day in May of 2006 he noticed a small knot on his left forearm, and after being forced to see the doctor by his wife he found out it was Merkell Cell Cancer. Gator received this news over the phone, and after hanging up he immediately prayed to God asking him to remove this illness from him. At that moment, he felt touched by a divine force, and was sure he would be spared from his disease. Gator soon received treatment and was not bothered by cancer for seven years. Then, just before Christmas of last year, he noticed another knot on his left knee. The Merkell Cell cancer had returned, and once again it was removed before it could spread. Gator’s faith, as well as his loving and supportive family, have helped him combat his disease twice now. His children are having successful academic careers, all enrolled at Emory and Mason College. Gator now works as a School Resource Officer for the Carroll County Virginia’s Sheriff’s Office, and loves the feeling of being a granddaddy to over 2,000 kids.
Jean Lord
2018 Champion - Team Dance on Deacons
Jean Lord is a native of Winston Salem. She went to Queen’s University of Charlotte with a BA in religion and philosophy. She lived in Greensboro for a time but settled permanently in Winston. Her first work was with Christian education and she then taught kindergarten in public school until retiring in 1994. She has 3 children, 3 children-in law, and 7 grandkids! The whole family lives in North Carolina and they get to spend a lot of time together. Jean’s husband passed away after a battle with Pancreatic cancer and she is currently battling her second round of adenocarcinoma, which she was diagnosed with in 2004. Even though both instances were the same variety of cancer, the two cases are unrelated. She has received chemotherapy treatment and surgeries and all of her care has been at Wake Forest. She is still in treatment for adenocarcinoma and is recovering from a recent surgery. In her free time Jean likes to spend time with her family and loves relaxing at the Outer Banks. She is a member Alpha Delta Kappa, an honor society for educators, and is very active in her church, Mount Tabor United Methodist. Jean has also spent time volunteering at Forsyth Medical Center, Meals on Wheels, and as a public school volunteer at Bolton Elementary School. Jean’s family describes her as a trouper and a hero, and we agree!
Ashley Mays
2018 Champion - Team Sit Down For What?
Dr. Ashley Mays is an otolaryngologist, or ear, nose and throat surgeon, completing her fourth and final year of residency at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. She is a Wake Forest alumna who received both the Presidential and Poteat Scholarships. She also served as the president of Screamin’ Demons when the Deacs excelled in both basketball and football! Dr. Mays was drawn to otolaryngology care and research due to her passion for the care of critically ill patients. She goes the extra mile to ensure the patient is as comfortable as possible during an extremely stressful time. Due to the nature of her field, Dr. Mays is often tasked with delivering delicate, devastating news to patients to better prepare them for future treatment. Dr. May’s research on this topic was recently published in both the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and Reuters. In her research, Dr. Mays developed an algorithm to determine whether or not patients would require feeding tubes after undergoing head and neck surgery. Dr. Mays hopes her findings will encourage doctors to take proactive action against unfavorable nutrition outcomes for patients post-surgery.
Haley Mellert
2018 Champion - Team X Out Cancer
Haley Mellert is 34, and she has been cancer free for 9 years. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she was 25 and just out of graduate school. She fought through 6 rounds of chemotherapy and beat the disease on December 22, 2006. Originally from West Virginia, Haley now lives in Winston-Salem and is now the Personnel Director for Maxim Healthcare Services. She loves to vacation in North Myrtle Beach with her sister and her nieces. She’s also an avid runner and loves participating in local 5K’s and races. Some of her favorite places to run in Winston-Salem include Salem lake and local neighborhoods. Last summer, she even participated in a Tough Mudder obstacle course with a fellow cancer survivor! Haley has a new outlook on life since her diagnosis. She no longer sweats the little things and doesn’t take anything for granted. To celebrate her victory, Haley adopted a kitten. She sees each one of its birthdays as another year she’s cancer-free. Despite her hardships, Haley gets through each day by remembering this quote by Gilda Radner: ”Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment, and making the best of it without knowing what’s going to happen next.”
Richard Rutledge
2018 Champion - Team Deacons Fight Cancer
Originally from Germanton, NC but currently residing in Walnut Cove, NC, Rick Rutledge is a brain tumor survivor whose journey began in 2012. Mr. Rutledge lost consciousness at his work place, where he works as a machine specialist and severely injured himself. After being assessed at a nearby hospital, he then was airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. He suffered several injuries including a broken collar bone and ribs, but it was the further investigation into his brain injuries that revealed the tumor in his right frontal lobe. His family and faith gave him the strength to fight the cancer and endure the surgery which removed part of his tumor. In spite of his difficult circumstances, he continually demonstrated his compassion and kindness to those who cared for him. His home-made pound cakes brought joy and happiness to those he met, both staff, doctors, and fellow patients. In addition to being a dad, a husband, a baker, and a cancer survivor, Mr. Rutledge is a devoted runner. His passion for running is demonstrated in his numerous races that he has dedicated to cancer research. His courage, strength, perseverance, and journey are epitomized in his favorite quote that is engraved onto his running ID: 'Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.'
Windy Scott
2018 Champion - Team Shakin’ For A Cure
Windy Scott is a 3 year colon cancer survivor. Born in Alexander County, NC, she now resides in Statesville, NC. She has worked as an inspirational vocalist, travelling around North Carolina and singing internationally in place such as Africa and Israel. In 2001, Scott had the honor of singing for former Governor Mike Easley at his inauguration. After battling cancer, she began singing jazz as a way to start a new chapter in her life. She believes in living life to its fullest with no regrets, taking chances, and just living in the moment. Scott is the proud grandmother of 17 grandchildren. She loves the Dallas Cowboys, blue grass music, and southern gospel hymns.
Robin Bralley
2017 Champion - Team MJ
Robin Bralley grew up in Clemmons and has called it home all her life. She has a degree from High Point University. She and her husband, Tim, have been married for 28 years and share two grown daughters, Briana and Morgan, as well as a new son-in-law, Briana’s husband, Jonathan! Robin started her journey this past November with a mammogram. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. She believes that cancer has a way of making you see life in a much different way. Every moment, even the little things are so much sweeter. Things you took for granted are now meaningful, and the things you thought were so important aren’t such a big deal after all. Robin and her family are avid Carolina Panthers fans and enjoy going to the movies and summer concerts. She loves the beach and especially her annual family vacations on the gulf coast of Florida. Her favorite group is Casting Crowns, but she is also an avid fan of country music! She is also an active member of Sunrise United Methodist Church and volunteers for bimonthly bread pick-up to support the Clemmons Food Pantry."
Cindy Ferguson
2017 Champion - Team Marley
Cindy Ferguson currently lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband John. She is the mother of two daughters - Elizabeth, who is currently a sophomore at Wake, and Emily, who is a junior at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta. Cindy was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer a year ago and still continues her fight. She has a passion for volunteering and serving others, and she serves on boards for The National Charity League, as well as for her church and her daughters' schools in Atlanta. Her favorite singer is George Strait, or really just about anything country, and one fun fact about Cindy is that she used to date Dean Cain, who then dumped her for Brooke Shields. Cindy is so excited to participate in Wake N Shake and can't wait to help raise money for an organization that is so dear to her heart.
Kathryn Gantt
2017 Champion - Team Spice Girls
Kathryn Gantt is from Statesville, NC. On Christmas Day, her husband noticed a lump over the top of her right breast and asked, \"What is that?\" Following an appointment with her doctor, she immediately went for a mammogram that determined she had a rare form of cancer called myeloid sarcoma; she was one of six with such a diagnosis. With God's strength, her husband’s unwavering support, and countless prayers, Kathryn finished her course of treatment at the end of the year. In looking to foster renewed happiness in her life, Kathryn began breeding Broodmare horses with the help of her cousin Steve. They now have three broodmares and greatly enjoy every aspect of the “horse-life.” Aside from caring for her horses, Shannon enjoys listening to the opera singer Andre Bocelli, even attending one of his concerts in Ft. Lauderdale.
Mike Lambros
2017 Champion - Team Kiss
"Mike Lambros is married to his wife, Sharon, for 38 years and together they have a son, Joshua. Mike has coached 38 seasons at North Davidson. He has coached football, wrestling, and softball. He has received the conference Coach of the Year award 28 times during his career and has coached 16 high school All Americans, 28 All South Region, All State and 205 All Conference players. In 2012, he was inducted into the Davidson County Sports Hall of Fame, inducted into the North Carolina FastPitch Coaches Association in 2013, and received the Long Leaf Pine Award in 2016. This past August, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is going through chemo treatments at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.") Champion.where(name:"Larry Jordan").first_or_create!(team:"Team The Beatles", photo: open("#{Rails.root}/db/seeds/data/champion_images/larry_jordan.jpg"), current:false, bio:"Larry Jordan currently lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with his wife Diane. His hobbies including fishing and watching sports. He especially loves Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the Dallas Cowboys!. He was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung in October of 2014. Thanks to the support of Take the Fight as well as his doctors and wife, he has been able to handle his diagnosis and treatment. He thanks God that he is still in remission today.
Sandie Lewis
2017 Champion - Team Beyonce
Sandie Lewis was born and raised in the Motor City “Detroit, MI”. She relocated to the beautiful Winston-Salem in 2013. She is the youngest and the only girl of her family. Sandie spends her free time roller skating, shopping, and hanging out with her Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Sisters. She is a fan of New Edition and Beyoncé. A few months after Sandie’s relocation to Winston by herself, she felt a lump in her breasts. She had felt one before and it turned out to be benign. When she felt another, she wasn’t too concerned. When her doctor felt the lump during a routine check-up and knew something wasn’t right. She was concerned and insisted that she get a diagnostic ultrasound. Well, when she received the results that she indeed had cancer, she was in total shock. Being in Winston alone and not knowing what to do, she went into fight mode. She knew she wasn’t going to let this get her down. She was then scheduled for a lumpectomy and 36 rounds of radiation and she is happy to report she has been cancer free for almost 4 years. She want to share her story that even alone you can fight and win. If she can share her story to give courage to one person to let them know you can beat this and you must fight, that would make her day. This was a wake-up call for her. When something feels strange, don’t hesitate to get it checked out. It’s been almost 4 years since her surgery and she has never in my life felt better. Her mission is to spread knowledge about this disease and help raise monies to find a cure.
Jenna Morris
2017 Champion - Team Madonna
Jennah Morris lives in Todd, NC which is right outside of Boone. She is currently working as a bank teller at Wells Fargo. She was diagnosed with an ependymoma brain tumor December 23rd, 2015, had her surgery December 30th, 2015, and was at Baptist until March 7th, 2016, where she underwent 6 weeks of radiation therapy. She also was at the sticht center undergoing physical, occupational, recreational, and speech therapy. Jennah is a Carolina Panthers fan and a Tennessee Vols fan by blood! What got her through that tough time in her life was Jesus, her wonderful family, friends, and the prayers from all around the world. She looks forward to inspiring others to be positive in their journeys!
Omer Tomlinson
2017 Champion - Team Elvis
Omer Tomlinson graduated from California State University. He lives with his wife, Michelle, and his daughter, Alisha, is a Double Deac receiving both an undergraduate and masters degree from Wake Forest University. He has three beautiful grandchildren. Omer was an English and speech teacher at Anaheim Union High School District, and then had a long career in radio as a former DJ. He now works in TV advertising. Omer was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer this past December. He is currently undergoing Chemotherapy at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital with encouraging results!"