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Marisol Perez with her family lead the cancer walk. Nina Crowder | Sun
Luminaries on the cancer walk. Nina Crowder | Sun
Cancer walk finishes up at Superior High School. Nina Crowder | Sun
Families remember lost loved ones. Nina Crowder | Sun
Superior Sun
The Superior High School Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) held their fifth annual Cancer Fight by Candlelight event. The honored guest was Marisol Perez with her family, parents Rusty and Julie Perez. Marisol was at the leader of the walk she was on her father’s shoulders wearing the FCCLA Cancer Walk t-shirt and a bright colored head band. The family found out about Marisol’s T-Cell Acute Lymphoblast Leukemia just before Halloween last year when Marisol had broke out in a rash and bruising. This ultimately has changed the life of the Perez’s family.
There were over 150 people walking and Sunset Drive was lined with luminaries that had names of people with cancer past and present. Many families walking have either lost a loved one to cancer or have a family member fighting cancer. The cancer walk helps people remember and fight back and gives the teens of Superior the opportunity to help raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Marisol undergoes chemotherapy and radiation at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital East Valley Clinic. The family has to be extremely careful about keeping Marisol safe from other infections. This happy little girl was enjoying her surroundings Saturday evening and wore a bright colorful headband as she sat on her father’s shoulders during the walk.
Following the walk on Sunset Drive the group walked around the Superior High School track and then enjoyed concessions, music and entertainment. Marisol was given a large bouquet of flowers in honor of her Leukemia fight! This little girl has a good spirit!
The FCCLA is a vibrant and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address personal, family, work and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education. Chapter projects focus on a variety of youth concerns, including teen pregnancy, parenting, family relationships, substance abuse, peer pressure, environment, nutrition and fitness, career choices, teen violence and the list goes one. The FCCLA is a wonderful opportunity for members to expand their leadership and develop skills for life.
Cancer is a disease characterized by out of control cell growth. There are over 100 different types of cancer and each is classified by the type of cell that is initially affected. Cancer harms the body when damaged cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors (except Leukemia where cancer prohibits normal blood function by abnormal cell division in the blood stream). Tumors can grow and interfere with the digestive, nervous and circulatory systems and they can release hormones that alter body functions. Tumors stay in one spot and demonstrate limited growth.
Anyone dealing with cancer has a rough road but it can be conquered. The support of family, friends and community are of the upmost importance. Marisol and her family have a long road ahead of them but have a wonderful support group. Everyone gets through cancer in their own way. It’s nice to know so many people in the Superior community are concerned and care about others. Best of luck to anyone who is fighting the cancer fight! And congratulations to the ones who have fought cancer and won!
Nina Crowder is a resident of Mammoth. She volunteers in several local organizations. She covers events throughout the Copper Corridor and Superior Town and School governance.
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