Girl's dedication to fighting cancer inspiring
As you may know, I lost my best friend Jackie Mahmoud to breast cancer this summer. Jackie fought a valiant battle for nearly five years before it took her.
As I continue to feel anger toward this disease and grieve for my beloved friend, it warms my heart to hear of people like 14-year-old Alexis Dames of Minooka, who made it her goal to run in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure breast cancer walk/run in Chicago in September.
Alexis was in the eighth grade at St. Raymond's School in Joliet last winter when she found out her teacher had been diagnosed with breast cancer. It was right then and there that Alexis knew she had to do something to help to fight it.
Although Alexis doesn't even like to run, she joined Team Caisley, a former babysitter and family friends, and started training as soon as the weather warmed up. Alexis said she was the only non-family member on the team of 11; the only oddball, she called herself.
But she was determined to be something else, to contribute as much as she could for the cause. Alexis sent out letters to all her former teachers, family members and friends asking them to sponsor her in the run. She not only reached the goal she set for herself of raising $1,000; she surpassed it and brought in $1,600 --the highest amount on her team. Suddenly she was known as the queen of fundraising.
Alexis ran the 5k Race for the Cure on Sept. 26, joining more than 12,000 breast cancer survivors, activists, family members and friends all walking and running for one reason--to put an end to breast cancer forever. Alexis spotted her eighth grade teacher in the crowd of runners sporting a survivor T-shirt.
One of the people who received a sponsorship letter from Alexis was her instructor at Kumon Math and Reading Center in Shorewood, where Alexis has attended after-school programs since she was in the fourth grade.
Lovena Saxena, director of the Shorewood center, has been Alexis' instructor for the past six years.
When she heard about Alexis' commitment to fighting breast cancer, Saxena wanted to honor Alexis in some way. She contacted Kumon North America to get permission to give her an award in Kumon's name. The organization was more than happy to help Saxena create the Kumon Spirit Award for Excellence in Service and Philanthropy and Alexis is the first recipient.
Saxena couldn't be more thrilled and proud of Alexis' commitment and accomplishments. She said she has watched Alexis grow up to the confident and committed person she is and she is proud to be a part of that.
Alexis was presented with the special award on Oct. 14 at the Kumon Awards Ceremony night at the Timbers in Shorewood. It's because of the Kumon program and Saxena that she is where she is today, Alexis told me.
Always wanting her students to be in a learning mode, Saxena assigned Alexis the project of writing an acceptance speech to read at awards night. While Alexis was nervous to speak in front of 100 or more people, she was more nervous about running the 5k, she said.
Nervousness aside, Alexis is already planning to run in the 2010 Race for the Cure in Chicago. I know everyone who has been touched in some way by breast cancer or other cancers applauds Alexis for her strength and commitment, as I do. You go girl!
Kris Stadalsky writes about the Channahon/Minooka area and towns southwest of Joliet. You can e-mail ideas to her at writestuff@cbcast.com.
