Bethel Park raises funds, awareness for cancer
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Abigail Neal gives a flower to her cancer-surviving guests, Kena Altmeyer (left) and her aunt Bridget Besong (center) before Bethel Park’s volleyball match against North Hills.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
David Fabus places raffle tickets in pink bags in the hopes of winning one of the gift baskets donated for Bethel Park’s Pink Out event.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Mary Loera receives a hug and a flower from Sarah Neal during a ceremony recognizing cancer survivors.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Bethel Park girls’ volleyball players Mackenzie Davin, Elaine DeLallo and Brooke Kessler prepare to present flowers to cancer survivors.
Photos: Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Bethel Park volleyball players pose for pictures with their honored guests, all cancer survivors, during their annual Pink Out Match.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Lisa George and her daughter, Clairessa, embrace during Pink Out events at Bethel Park High School.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Sophie Puzausky places a vase of flowers at center court in memory of loved ones lost to cancer during Pink Out events at Bethel Park High School.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
A vase of flowers is placed at center court in memory of friends and neighbors of the Bethel Park volleyball players who lost their battles with cancer.
Live life and get screened. Cancer survivors Greg Davin and Mary Loera of Bethel Park offer that advice whatever the month.
Davin was diagnosed with testicular cancer 15 years ago. He and his wife, Maureen, have four children, Ashley, Tyler, Shane and MacKenna, as well as three grandsons.
“It’s amazing how fast time goes,” he said. “If there is one thing I have learned from my journey, it’s that life is short. So enjoy every minute you can of it.”
Davin added that “life is tough no matter what happens,” and when one is confronted with a cancer diagnosis, it’s “an awakening” and it opens eyes to what life’s all about.
“So, love everybody that you can possibly love because you are only here for a little bit of time,” he said. “We don’t realize that. It’s best to enjoy every minute you can possibly enjoy.”
Loera is enjoying life again too because she has been cancer-free for 10 years. At age 41, she was diagnosed with colon cancer.
“I’m lucky,” she said.
Loera related how she was planning a wrestling tournament for her sons when Dr. Mark Cedar told her that he would be missing it because he had to attend a medical convention. Loera inquired as to his particular specialty and Cedar remarked that he was a gastroenterologist. During a private conversation, he encouraged her to have a colonoscopy.
“I had the test and I remember them saying that if I didn’t hear from them in 48 hours, then no news is good news. But my phone rang that night after dinner, after I figured I was in the clear, and Cedar was telling me that I had cancer but I should thank my lucky stars that it was caught early.”
After successful surgery, Loera is cancer-free.
“Dr. Cedar is my guardian angel,” Loera said.
She added she has learned from her experience and recommends screening.
“Don’t ignore symptoms,” she said.
Loera added it doesn’t matter whether it’s a special month. She laughed because she didn’t recall when Colon Cancer Awareness was but she did remember “Get Your Rear in Gear” as its slogan. She reiterated, “get tested.”
While October is recognized worldwide as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Bethel Park girls’ volleyball team acknowledged all victims of the disease and honored survivors like Loera and Gavin during a special fund-raising event held recently during a match against North Hills.
Tyann Neal, whose daughters Abigail and Sarah play on the team, said the Pink Out Game is an annual activity but throughout the year the team participates in a variety of endeavors. The Lady Hawks donate money and give of their time to organizations such as the Pink Pamper, which provides cancer patients wigs and other essential items. The players have also collected items such as school supplies, toothpaste, stuffed animals and socks to fill backpacks for students. They also have participated in the Joey Fabus Foundation run held in September. This year’s race raised roughly $12,000 for childhood cancers.
“These incredible girls are not only passionate about their sport but they have amazing hearts and are always willing to give back,” Neal said.
During their annual Pink Out activity, the Lady Hawks raised $1,943.50. They donated the proceeds to the Bloom Foundation. (See related story.)
In addition to a 50/50 and gift basket raffles, the players gathered court side before their match and gave flowers to their invited guests, all cancer survivors. The ceremony also included a vase of pink carnations placed at center court in memory of those lost to the disease and whose names were announced on the PA system.
“Every single year we do a game where we dedicate to breast cancer survivors or those that have passed away and to say how thankful we are to them,” said Abigail Neal.
“It’s really important,” she continued. “Everyone goes through tough battles, I think being able to overcome those and get through those is really important and showing your respect for people like that is really important to us.”
While Neal recognized her aunts, Bridget and Gwen, as well as a few of her mother’s other friends, Brooke Kessler acknowledged her grandparents, Anna and Edward Kessler, who died of cancer, as well as her invited cancer survivors.
“This hits home because everybody knows somebody who has had cancer or is a survivor. It is a really special thing to honor everybody who has gone through this. It’s good for us to honor those that have survived and even those that haven’t. It’s special for them to know that they are not alone in this and we are there for them and we support them.”
David Fabus was touched by the team’s remembrance of his son. Joey Fabus succumbed to Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) at age 8 on Jan. 21, 2015.
Fabus, who had a heart transplant in 2018, also had a daughter, Hannah, who died at 15 months due to complications from a kidney condition.
“This is pretty amazing that they do this; how they honor the living and even recognize the past. Those who lost their lives,” aFabus said.
With tears in his eyes, he added, “I was really shocked to hear them say Joey’s name. It’s hard to hear. In my heart he’s always there and a constant reminder to me of his courage. What I went through was nothing compared to what he and Hannah endured. The pain and suffering, they had. I can’t complain about anything.”
Loera only had compliments for the Lady Hawks’ fundraising efforts. She also noted that during the course of the year how Abigail Neal often makes “the best biscotti” and donates the proceeds to finding cures for cancers. She also mentioned that she has been best friends with Tyann Neal since her daughters were preschoolers, long before being volleyball players.
“I think it is awesome that they celebrate people’s persistence and survival,” Loera said. “It’s fantastic.”
Davin agreed. “I love it,” he said of the Pink Out. “I love anything that can support cancer survivors or people we lost from cancer.
“It’s unfortunate, but everybody has somebody that they know is a survivor or has passed,” he added. “It’s all over the world, so whatever we can do to support it is the greatest thing.”
The Bloomfoundation.gives is a nonprofit organization that helps educate others about breast cancer and emphasizes that the disease doesn’t discriminate based on age, family history, or level of health.
It was started shortly after Erika Rich, who played soccer at Chartiers Valley High School as well as Wittenberg University, was diagnosed with HER2+ Stage IV Breast Cancer in March 2019 at the age of 25.
Along with her sister, Jessica Sinclair, the two co-founded the organization in part to shed light on the fact that such a diagnosis is not a death sentence but a new beginning to start living.
Prior to her diagnosis, Rich was a Realtor, yoga instructor, and plant-based personal chef. Her dedication to wellness before her diagnosis played a key role in her vitality throughout her journey.
At age 28, the Scott Township resident lost her three-year battle with breast cancer on Feb. 14, 2022.
Visit Bloomfoundation.gives for more information.