Devin Boerm

TAMA NEWS-HERALD – A very special National Cancer Survivors Day 2010 Celebration is being planned by the Marshalltown Cancer Support Group Tuesday, June 1, at 7 p.m. in the basement fellowship hall of First Congregational Church, 312 W. Main St. in Marshalltown. This day honors citizens who are living with and beyond cancer and is a celebration of life that is held throughout the United States, Canada, and other participating countries. Cancer survivors, caregivers, family members, friends, and healthcare professionals will unite in this symbolic event to show the world that having an active, productive life after a cancer diagnosis can be a reality.

The local celebration will include an evening of presentations from two area cancer survivors plus Marilyn Patterson a humorist from Gilman. The event will also include signing the Survivors Tree, a mayoral proclamation, refreshemnts and a prize drawing.

The first speaker will be Pam Swarts, a Marshalltown resident for over 25 years who is a mother of two college-age children, a business owner, an active community volunteer, and a cancer survivor. Pam’s story illustrates how lifes “distraction” can be both a barrier and a blessing in cancer survival. She describes herself as a consummate lifelong learner, and plans to share what she has learned from her experience as both a cancer survivor and a cancer care-giver. In her words “Everyday offers hope and choices, weather we are sick or well. A diagnosis of cancer helps us cherish those opportunities all the more.” Pam encourages newly diagnosed cancer patients and those undergoing treatment to attend this event.

The second speaker for the evening will be Devin Boerm, formerly of Toledo. She will be talking about her experiences as a cancer survivor.

The entertainment for the evening will be conducted by Marilyn Patterson a humorist from Gilman. She is a retired elementary teacher who taught in a Tama County School (Columbia #9), Ferguson, Dunbar, Gilman and Laurel. She is a graduate of Toledo High School, Iowa State Teacher’s College (UNI) and Drake University. She has four grown children with six grandchildren and one great grandchild. She is the past-president of the Gilman Public Library baord of directors and currently serves on the beoard of directors of the Gilman Townhouse Apartments. She has held various other positions in the Gilman community. Marilyn presents programs to local groups on a variety of topics and her topic for the Survivors Day Celebration will be “toilet paper.”

The Marshalltown Cancer Support Group urges all to attend this annual celebration of life.