THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 26, 1995 TAG: 9501260144
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
SPECIAL REASONS account for most participants in the local chapter's 15th annual American Cancer Society Rock-a-Thon.
The event is one of the area's most successful fund-raisers.
Money is raised by getting people to pledge a certain amount for each hour participants rock in a chair at the Rock-A-Thon.
Why go to all that trouble? The reasons are as diverse as the people involved: Benny Plewews, 64
He first visited the Rock-A-Thon to see a friend singing backup for an Elvis imitator.
``My son had died of cancer, but I never gave a thought to working with the American Cancer Society.
``But I saw people rocking, and for good reason. I've been with them ever since.''
His rocking began in 1985, a year after his son, Tim, succumbed to the disease.
``I've collected between $5,000 and $6,000,'' he said. ``When I ask for pledges, I tell people we're trying to raise money for cancer research and to transport patients to hospitals.''
When Plewes began, the Rock-A-Thon lasted 24 hours.
``I really enjoyed that,'' he said. ``Most of the entertainment was very good, and I enjoy seeing the same people every year.
``And, of course, there is the satisfaction of raising the money - helping.'' Thaxton Richards, 71
``I've been involved with the Rock-A-Thon four years,'' he said. ``First, I was asked to serve on the board.''
``My father and brother both died of cancer,'' said Brown, Suffolk postmaster from 1975 to 1980. ``At the Rock-A-Thon, I made a lot of new friends, just rockin' and talkin'.''
Brown also serves on the local chapter's Transportation Committee, helping get patients back and forth to and from hospitals.
``All of the patients have positive attitudes,'' he said. ``I have yet to hear one complain about their condition.
``I get pleasure knowing someone, somewhere, somehow will be helped. . . . George Richards, 71
``This is my second year.
``I was visiting a very close friend of mine, Leroy Burke Jr., who was in the final stages of cancer.
``He told me how devastating the disease is.
``Leroy told me that word needs to get out about cancer,'' he said. ``He told me that one out of four black men may die of cancer.
``They don't follow up on doctors visits, and they need more education on the subject.
``Leroy died soon after that visit.''
Just hours after Richards visited his friend, he returned a call from Thaxton Brown, a former co-worker.
``The call was providence . . . He was chairing the Nominating Committee and wanted me to serve on the board.''
Richards lost a brother to the disease several years ago. Pat Howell, 60
She is a volunteer in the Oncology Care Unit at Obici Hospital.
Howell is in charge of a coffee get-together for families of cancer patients, she visits patients, is a facilitator for the Breast Cancer Support Group and is active with I Can Cope, which helps patients better understand the disease, and lets them know about services available to them.
``I'm involved with the Cancer Society because I'm a survivor,'' Howell said. ``I had breast cancer in 1983.
``There was no doubt in my mind about making it with chemotherapy and radiation treatments,'' she said. ``I'd been part of the Cancer Society but became more active after I developed the disease.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Benny Plewes, whose son, Tim, died of cancer in 1984, is one of
several people who participate annually in the American Cancer
Society Rock-A-Thon. ``I've collected between $5,000 and $6,000,''
he says.
by CNB