Brown County Relay for Life organizers announced Donna Burleson as this year’s adult cancer survivor honoree Friday morning at Brownwood Regional Medical Center where she volunteers. For Burleson, cancer is a “personal thing” and the relay is her way of promoting awareness and celebrating her own victory in the battle against breast cancer.
Relay Survivor Chairperson Marian Deans stated that the committee decided to select Burleson as the adult survivor after last year’s committee held their meeting after the 2014 Relay for Life. They said it was a challenge to keep the selection a secret from Burleson during meetings in which she was usually involved.Burleson was happy to be this year’s honoree, as she has volunteered for the relay since 2008 and feels passionate about her involvement each year.
“I feel honored that they think that much of me to honor me in this way,” said Burleson. “I just want to raise money and end the fight for cancer. I want it to become like the common cold—where they just give you medicine and its gone or they do surgery on you and it’s gone.”
Burleson is originally from southern California, near Palm Springs, and moved with her husband back to Texas, his home state, several years ago. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in August of 2007, undergoing surgery to remove the cancer along with radiation and chemotherapy in 2008.
“I was scared. The first thing that I thought was, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to die soon,’” explained Burleson. “Now I feel the need to let everyone know that not every cancer is a death sentence, especially breast cancer because it’s so early detectible.”
Burleson stated that she is a member of the Brown County Circle of Survivors, a local support group for cancer survivors and that she has made many friends through the group.
“We talk about the fact that political people state you don’t have to have a mammogram until you are 50, but just about everyone of us were under 50 when we were diagnosed,” said Burleson. She said that she really wants to help bring awareness to the idea of having mammograms done younger than 50, so that the cancer can be detected early giving the patient more chances for survival.
While Burleson was going through her treatment, her mother, Kathleen D’Ottavio, came to visit and helped her cook a big New Year’s dinner for their extended family. Her mother too was diagnosed with cancer in October; however, hers was stage 4 lung cancer. Burleson said she herself suffers from survivor’s guilt because she survived her breast cancer and her mother helped her when she was weak going through treatment; however, her mother was living unaware of cancer and once diagnosed, it was too far along for Burleson to be able to help her mother whose life was then taken by cancer.
“The fear of cancer is always there,” said Burleson. “I’m always worried it might come back.” She explained that she goes for regular checkups and does frequent self examinations in between.
Burleson stated that involvement in the Relay for Life event is a fun way to give back. She explained, “I look forward to it because it’s fun and a way to make the community aware of cancer.”
Although Burleson is cancer free now, she continues to promote cancer awareness, both by word and visually with stickers on her car. One such sticker sums it up stating, “I Fight to Win.”
Pictured above are 2015 Relay for Life survivor chair Marian Deans, 2015 adult survivor honoree Donna Burleson and Relay Chairman Rick Phelps.
The 2015 Brown County Relay for Life will be held on May 22nd from 7 p.m. until 1 a.m. at a new venue for the event, Longhorn Stadium in Early. This year’s Relay will be in honor of Judy Day, who served as a counselor at Early ISD. This year’s co-chairs are Elaine Hall and Rick Phelps.
Relay for Life is the signature fundraising event of the American Cancer Society where individuals and teams walk/run overnight to show their commitment in the fight against cancer and to help raise money for cancer research and support.
