ABOVE- Trisha and Scott Gonya with daughters Allison and Ashley. Trisha is hosting a fundraising event at the Tama-Toledo Eagles on Saturday for blood cancer research. -Photo provided

“I accepted this nomination in honor of my daughter, Ashley, and so that one day no parent will hear those unbearable words: “Your child has cancer,” area native Tricia Gonya says.

“I am (also) running in memory of my uncle (formerly of Montour), Mark McCoy. Mark fought leukemia as a high school student at South Tama. Mark passed away of a secondary cancer in November, 2013,” Tricia says.

Tricia, the daughter of Pat and Marty McCoy, rural Toledo, is a candidate for “The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Central Iowa 2017 Woman of the Year title. The goal of the candidates is to raise funds for blood cancer research.

“I am proud to bring a part of my campaign back to my hometown,” Tricia wrote in an email to The Chronicle. She is a 1994 graduate of South Tama High School.

Events here on Saturday, April 8, include a Pepper Tourney and Indian Taco Sale on Saturday, at the Tama Toledo Eagles Club, 112 East 3rd, downtown Tama. In addition to the tourney and tacos, we will have raffles, merchandise, silent auction packages, and lots of fun, Tricia says.

Taco sales will be from 5-8 p.m. Registration for the tournament starts at 5 p.m. and the action gets underway at 6. Tournament sponsors are Hrabak Lumber and Jason and Mandy Lekin – Appraisal and Real Estate Services.

The event here is one of a number in a 10-week-long campaign. The top local fundraisers in the country win the national title. Each dollar raised counts as one vote.

With her husband, Scott Gonyo, and daughters Ashley, 8, and Allison, 10, the family lives in West Des Moines. Tricia is vice president of sales and marketing for Venue Works in Ames.

Ashley’s Battle

Tricia writes:

“This is very personal to me…

“n Feb. 13, 2013, I heard the words that are every mother’s worst nightmare –

“Your daughter has cancer.” My heart was broken. My head was spinning. I was given a bunch of paperwork. Consents. Releases. Trials. So much information. I laid it all on the desk, crawled into the hospital bed with my then 4 1/2 year old daughter and, at that moment, with tears rolling down my face, I held her tight … and together we started our fight!

“After 26 months of treatment, Ashley won her battle against acute lymphoblastic leukemia. To say it was a long, difficult road would be a complete understatement. Ashley’s diagnosis and treatment affected our family, friends and community.

“Nearly two years post-treatment, Ashley is a healthy, happy 8 year old. She plays soccer, softball and basketball. She takes gymnastics classes and horse riding lessons. She is a survivor, an inspiration and a hero.

“Today, I am no longer a mom of a child with leukemia. Today, I am a 2017 LLS Woman of the Year candidate. I raise funds to honor my daughter. My leukemia survivor.

“I raise funds to help fund research so one day 100 percent of diagnosed patients are cured.

“I raise funds so LLS may continue to provide the information that patients and caregivers need-the easy-to-read and informative publications and the rich information on LLS.org.

“I raise funds to help provide financial assistance to those affected by leukemia & lymphoma.

“And, I raise funds to support and promote innovative clinical trials that will save the lives of future blood cancer patients.”