Worthy causes

VICTORY!

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Here is how my faith and my quest for a healthy lifestyle helped me beat this insidious disease • By Kimerly Fernandez

Iwas faced with a situation that turned my world upside down. In December 2015, I felt a lump in my left breast, had a biopsy performed and the results came back positive for breast cancer.

I remember it like it was yesterday. My husband and I sat in the doctors ofce in disbelief as she delivered the news. I had just run the Dallas Half Marathon two weeks prior to the diagnosis, and I felt great. In fact, I think I may have been in the best physical shape of my life to that point. In that instant my life was completely turned upside down. As you can imagine I had so many questions – what do we do now, can it be treated, do I need chemotherapy, but “am I going to die?” was the foremost thought on my mind.

Everything started moving so fast. Before I knew it I had an Oncologist, a Breast Care Surgeon, and a Plastic Surgeon. There were so many decisions to make– it was a whirlwind experience. I decided to take the aggressive approach, which would include 12 chemo treatments, and two surgeries. I cried constantly as I thought about the long hard road ahead. At the time I didn’t see an end in sight.

After starting chemotherapy I lost my hair almost immediately. Not only was my appearance beginning to change, my habits were changing as well. The chemotherapy drugs changed my taste buds, and everything I ate tasted horrible – as a result I wasn’t eating much. This was the hardest part for me to deal with because I love to eat. I would sit at my dinner table and cry over my food because I was so hungry, yet I wouldn’t eat because the food tasted so bad.

I was downright inconsolable at times; I felt so bad I wanted to die. It is difcult to say that, but I really did – the pain and depression was unbearable.

I was a very active person before the diagnosis. I thoroughly enjoyed running and teaching exercise classes. During this season I thought that part of my life was over. As I got stronger I would hit the trail running, not giving up and getting a little further each time. For the past three years I’ve run the Dallas Half Marathon. My Oncologist informed me that this particular year I would need to sit it out, but my

runs were getting stronger and longer. He fnally gave in and gave me his blessing! I ran the Half Marathon in December 2016 during my very last month of treatment.

My battle with cancer taught me several lessons and confrmed for me many of the things I strongly believe. I have no doubt my active lifestyle helped my body to fght the disease. Because I believe so strongly in health and ftness I regularly encourage women to become as ft as they can be in preparation for anything life will throw at them. My journey with this disease has also connected me to many women fghting their battles with cancer, and I am honored and humbled to assist them along their journey.

My battle with cancer also confrmed my faith in God. Although my physical body and mind were doubtful, my spirit remained strong. Well, mostly strong. I battled with anxiety, depression, and fear, but by the grace of God I made it through!

There is no doubt I would not have made it this far without my commitment to my health through physical ftness and my faith in God. I give God all the glory for my victory over cancer. I was declared cancer free on June 3, 2016, and I celebrate life to the fullest, and I stand with all women who are forced to fght this insidious disease. nationalbreastcancer.org

North Texas Giving Day nets a record $58.8 million

With the coronavirus pandemic creating even more community need, Arlington residents once again showed strong support for the city’s

Photo: St. Maria Goretti Catholic School

many hard-working nonprofts through donations made as part of last month’s North Texas Giving Day.

Here’s how Saint Maria Goretti Catholic School promoted North Texas Giving Day. The effort earned the school the People’s Choice Award and a $10,000 donation from the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Arlington Youth Foundation based on text votes during the North Texas Giving Day activities.

In all, a record-breaking $58.8 million was raised through 106,356 donations for non-profts across North Texas. Precisely 8,580 donations totaling $2,020,815 were directed to Arlington nonprofts, exceeding last year’s record-setting 7,299 gifts totaling nearly $1.8 million.

During this year’s fundraising event, the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation sponsored a full day of live-streamed concerts broadcast from the Levitt Pavilion and also awarded $60,000 in grants to Arlington-based non-profts of all sizes.

North Texas Giving Day is an annual 18-hour online giving event, coordinated by the Communities Foundation of Texas, that encourages residents to make a contribution to the nonproft organization of their choice. All contributions made between 6 a.m. and midnight on this day are matched in part by the Communities Foundation. Since 2014, the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation has sponsored free community concerts and awarded grants to recognize and highlight Arlington-based non-proft organizations and to help North Texas Giving Day contributors’ dollars go even further.

“Along with our frst responders and healthcare workers, local charities are serving the community ensuring vital resources and other crucial community services are available to help those most in need during the COVID-19 pandemic and those groups which our community has depending on for comfort, culture and care,” Arlington Mayor Jef Williams says.

Grace Preparatory Academy President Chris Parker says the generous donations from the community and the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation help the school provide additional enrichment activities for students, such as feld trips, after-school music lessons and athletics.

“North Texas Giving Day has been one of the big events we do that brings our Grace Prep community together,” Parker says. “We are a small school, but it gives us a chance to show of our students and families and tell the city about our mission. We are so thankful that the city and the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation has embraced that. We love their support and

generosity.”

New Day Arlington is another one of the many non-profts that value the fundraising power of North Texas Giving Day. The community’s donations during this annual event help New Day continue its mission of providing meals and snacks to Arlington Independent School District students.

“New Day provides weekend food for hungry children. Last year, New Day delivered over 1,000 bags of food to Arlington students each week. We are preparing to serve many more students in the coming school year,” the nonproft said in a video shared on the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation’s Facebook page. “Volunteers buy, organize, pack and deliver the weekend bags to counselors in over 40 Arlington schools.”

Throughout the day, residents who dropped of donations at Levitt Pavilion Arlington enjoyed free concerts from Larry Gee, Hannah Kirby and Brad Thompson, Bri Bagwell, Ron Bultongez and Radney Foster. These shows were live-streamed through the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation and the Levitt Pavilion Arlington’s Facebook pages.

A PROPER SALUTE community-based resources a little easier, resources and programming for active military, veterans and their families. This includes connecting those in need with Veteran Service Organizations, Community-Based Organizations, federal, state and local government programs.

“The need for veterans’ resources and services in North Texas has continued to grow, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Leah King, president and CEO of United Way of Tarrant County. “We are seeing an increase in requests for assistance for basic needs such as food, rent and utilities, and health care. Texas Veterans Network provides streamlined access to resources for the men and women who have served our country, as well as their families. United Way of Tarrant County Mission United is pleased to partner with Combined Arms to make navigating the vast landscape of for our families.” United Way Mission United military initiative joins forces with The partnership also expands services Texas Veterans Network to help service members transition and provides more options for veterans and greater accessibility through the Combined Arms mobile app, available

The Arlington-based United Way of Tarrant County Mission Active duty service members, veterans and military families can also United military initiative recently joined Texas Veterans access services by calling 844-4TX-VETS (844-489-8387) or visiting Network, the frst interconnected statewide service for TexasVeterans.Network. transitioning service members, veterans and military families. The program is expected to serve more than 4,000 annually in the United Way of Tarrant County Mission United will be the North North Texas Region. Currently, about 500,000 active military and Texas component of the network. veterans call North Texas home.

In partnership with Combined Arms, a Texas-founded and The Texas Veterans Network is made possible fnancially through the Texas-operated nonproft organization, and utilizing innovative Texas Workforce Commission in partnership with The American Job technology, Texas Veterans Network provides access to services, Center Network and the generosity of the Walmart Foundation.

through iOS and Android app stores.

Image: criminaljusticeschoolinfo.com

“THE NEED for veterans’ resources and services in North Texas has continued to grow, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

If there is one social element that the pandemic utterly destroyed, it is the gathering of large crowds. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Arlington is no exception, but fortunately, this year’s annual Walk is still happening on Saturday, Nov. 7. And it’s happening EVERYWHERE.

“Although the world may look diferent right now, one thing hasn’t changed: our commitment to always kind of fighty in the way many creative people are.” ending Alzheimer’s,” says Holly Clinton, Walk Manager for When Cindy’s husband placed her in full time memory care in the Alzheimer’s Association. “This year, the Walk is going to 2016, Camala visited her and was shocked. “She didn’t know who I be everywhere – on every sidewalk, track and trail throughout was,” Cunningham recounts. “We had known each other since 2003.” Arlington and surrounding areas!” The decline of her mother was on a diferent level. “We fnally had

“This year’s event won’t be a large in-person gathering,” adds to place her in assisted living, but she seemed OK with it. She even Liz Miller, Director of Special Events and Marketing for the North decided she was not going to walk anymore, and we had to move Central Texas Chapter of the Association. “Instead, we invite you her around in a wheelchair. She had good days that we would spend to walk in small teams of friends and family while others in your going outside to a Sonic or Whataburger.” community do the same. The health and safety of our walkers, When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Camala, like many others, volunteers and staf are our top priorities.” was no longer able to see her mother face to face. “She was OK with

One of those walkers this year is Arlington resident Camala FaceTime,” says Camala with a smile. “But the day fnally came Cunningham. Cunningham is walking for both her mother, when we had to move her to hospice care in a hospital, where at Myrna Cline, and her best friend Cindy, both of whom she lost to least I could visit her, and fnally say goodbye.” Alzheimer’s this year. This year, the Walk is especially poignant to Cunningham who sees it as a way to honor her two loved ones after losing them so recently. “I am just thrilled WALK THIS WAY! that the Walk is still taking place, and it’s being held in a way that ensures everyone’s safety,” she says. “It gives me an opportunity to honor both of them, while also contributing to fnding The annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s is set for Nov. 7, and it a cure.” will take place not in one locale, but all across the region Just like the hundreds of other walkers in the Arlington area who register, Cunningham doesn’t just walk on Nov. 7. She also raises

“Cindy developed Younger Onset Alzheimer’s in 2014 at the age funds throughout the year. of 55, and passed away in March at age 61,” says Cunningham. “‘My “Nearly 80% of the funds raised from the Arlington Walk to End mom lived with dementia for at least six years before passing away Alzheimer’s directly fund the care, support, research, awareness and in June. This has been a tough year.” advocacy eforts of the Alzheimer’s Association,” says Holly Clinton.

Alzheimer’s is not just a disease of the elderly. “It can strike at Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, Walk to any time, and it’s never the same in two people,” says Cunningham. End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and “My mother had issues with short-term memory, but seemed to be funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. The Alzheimer’s OK with long-term. She had been an elementary school principal Association is the largest private funder of Alzheimer’s research in in Mansfeld and Arlington, and was always very structured and the world. The nonproft’s current research investment includes over disciplined. When she began to lose that daily structure, I knew $208 million in 590 active best-of-feld projects in 31 countries. something was wrong.” “We would absolutely LOVE it if we worked ourselves out of a “It took a bit longer to recognize when Cindy was having job!” Clinton says. difculties,” Cunningham continues. ““Cindy was an artist, and was For more: act.alz.org/arlington.