Cancer survivors, caregivers enjoy brunch

Cancer survivor Shirley Vaughn, second from right, brought her caregivers Joyce Vandelicht, second from left, Tom Vandelicht, left, and Virgil Butler, along with several others, to the Relay for Life brunch.
Cancer survivor Shirley Vaughn, second from right, brought her caregivers Joyce Vandelicht, second from left, Tom Vandelicht, left, and Virgil Butler, along with several others, to the Relay for Life brunch.

Cancer survivor Linda Boshners believes that people fighting cancer need more than just medical treatment - they need the help of their friends and family.

"Caregivers are the emotional and physical support for their family and friends, and cancer patients need so much support," Boshners said.

Cancer survivors and their caregivers enjoyed a Relay for Life-sponsored brunch at First Baptist Church on Saturday. Boshners was the head volunteer coordinator, working alongside Relay for Life staff member Joy Shawley.

"I love to see the survivors and caregivers fellowship together," Shawley said.

The definition of caregiver is broad. Shawley was the primary caregiver for her husband while he fought leukemia - which drove her to be more involved in Relay for Life. Attendees ranged from people who gave emotional support to folks who transported their friend to chemotherapy appointments.

Seventh-grader Kelsey Shawley was just eight when her dad was diagnosed with leukemia.

"I was sad, and happy that he lived as long as he did," she said. "We tried to do as many things as we could because we didn't think he'd survive."

Her father beat cancer, and now Kelsey captains her own Relay for Life team.

Many brunch attendees are both survivors and caregivers themselves.

"I'm a 22-year survivor of bladder cancer, and I lost my husband to pharyngeal cancer in 1987," Boshners said.

Other family members, including her aunt, also fought cancer. She acted as caregiver for her aunt and husband.

"It was very hard because all of my husband's family was a long way away," Boshners said.

In other words, caregivers themselves need support, too. Shirley Vaughn, another survivor and caregiver, agreed. She brought a large group of her family and friends to the brunch.

"Caregivers are very important because you're really quite nervous," Vaughn said. "My mother died of pancreatic cancer so I was fearful, having seen what she went through."

She sat with her friends Joyce and Tom Vandelicht.

"These two got me to all my treatments," she said.

In addition to the half-dozen other people she brought with her, she said there were still more people who supported her.

According to organizer Shawley, funds for the free brunch are raised through Relay for Life fundraising efforts. The biggest event of the year for Callaway County is coming up on June 3.

"It will be a 12-hour event with free music entertainment," Shawley said.

To learn more, or sign up to participate, visit relayforlife.org/callawaycomo.