ATHENS-Kristi Williams lost a son to childhood cancer. Tina Cook, a cancer survivor herself, lost her mother to ovarian cancer.
Both women work to raise awareness in memory of their loved ones:
- Eli Williams of Athens who fought medulloblastoma and three relapses and died at age 12 in 2017.
- Mildred Ann Davis Grisham of Athens who died in 2013 at the age of 67.
Kristi Williams, Mayor Marks, Teresa Corbeil, and Renee Carr
September serves as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. On Monday, Sept. 7, Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks met with Williams and Cook to proclaim September as an awareness month for both local as an opportunity for citizens to learn about the symptoms, treatments, prevention and support.
“Losing a child or losing a parent to cancer is heartbreaking,” Marks said. “I admire these women for finding ways through their grief to honor their families by raising awareness and supporting our community.”
Pediatric cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 14. According to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 43 children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer each day, and 400,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer each year worldwide. St. Jude estimates about 483,000 childhood cancer survivors live in the United States and more than 80 percent of U.S. childhood cancer patients now become long-term survivors thanks to research and improvements in treatment.
Tina Cook and Mayor Marks
Williams and her supporters created Eli’s Block Party Childhood Cancer Foundation to raise funds for innovative research and provide events for the community. On Saturday, Sept. 11, at Big Spring Memorial Park in Downtown Athens, the foundation will host its annual Superhero Day to honor or community’s youngest heroes who battle cancer. The event is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a Parade of Heroes at 10:30 a.m. The real heroes section will feature law enforcement, military, firefighters, farmers and utility linemen. There will be about 30 to 40 superheroes, entertainment, food trucks, rented rides and inflatables.
Like Williams, Cook and her family found a way to give back. They created Mildred’s Angels, a group dedicated to raising awareness of gynecologic cancers and to assist families as they travel to care for a terminally ill family member.
The American Cancer Society states prevention and screenings are beneficial in the fight against these types of cancers. Cook said ovarian, especially, is known as the “whispering disease” because its symptoms mimic menopause, menstrual, gastro-intestinal or back problems. Because she knew from her mother’s battle what the symptoms can be, Cook caught her cancer early and is a survivor.
Athens City Hall has both a gold ribbon for childhood cancer and teal ribbon for gynecologic cancer on its front doors to remember those lost too soon and to honor those who continue the fight. In addition, the City of Athens Relay for Life Team is collecting cola tabs to send to Ronald McDonald House which provides lodging for those who have a child at St. Jude. The team also has cards available in the foyer at City Hall that list the warning signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.
