Blood Drive Nets 44 Units of Blood
A Red Cross blood drive was held in memory of Elizabeth Amisano on December 30, 2009 at St. Mary's of the Lake Church in Watkins Glen.
The goal of the drive was to collect 40 units of blood. Live Like Liz supporters turned out to donate blood and a total of 44 units were collected. Thank you to all that came out to donate blood to save lives of others. Your gift of life is greatly appreciated by all.
Live Like Liz loses good friend and mentor, Diane Sherrer.
(Photo by Julie O'Brien - Marie Fitzsimmons, left; Diane Sherrer, right.)
Live Like Liz Honors
Dear Friend and Mentor,
Diane Sherrer
Kimberlee Swartz
June 6, 2009
Nearly 450 runners honor Amisano in the first Live Like Liz
“It was a spiritual moment invisible to the eye, a flicker of faith that would almost enable you to see Liz Amisano standing at the foot of the Catharine Valley Trail, waving at her friends and family, and laughing so loudly it would echo through the tunnel of trees.”
Diane Sherrer
June 19, 2006
Live Like Liz is deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend and mentor, Diane Sherrer. Her support of our mission to promote awareness of ovarian cancer through education has helped us to reach out to hundreds of individuals.
We were stunned in June 2007 at our second annual race to learn that Diane had been diagnosed with lung cancer and was about to undertake one of the most challenging battles of her life. As is always the case, it was unimaginable that this ground breaking and vibrant women’s distance runner could possibly be fighting this horrendous and non-discriminate disease.
It was no surprise nearly a year later, early April 2008, at the Skunk Cabbage Classic Half Marathon & 10K to find Diane working registration prior to the race. I was delighted to see her and asked how she was doing. She smiled and replied with a strong and positive voice, “It’s been a challenge, but I want Live Like Liz to know that I take heart reading the words on the teal Live Like Liz race ribbon I have taped to my computer monitor.”
It is undeniable that Diane lived her life in much the same way as Liz Amisano.
She loved her family, cherished her friends, believed in God, cared about others, laughed a lot, and enjoyed life.
Live Like Liz Members
Remember Diane Sherrer“When the Live Like Liz group decided to hold our first 5K Run/Walk we were very fortunate to have the guidance of Marie Fitzsimmons who was the Watkins Glen High School track coach and also Liz's coach during her high school years. When Marie heard that her good friend and running partner since 1990, Diane Sherrer, would be covering our event for the Star Gazette she told us how well respected Diane was in the running world and how important her opinion would be for this and any future races. On the Tuesday morning after the race, Marie and I read Diane's article and we were thrilled with the praise she gave us. Diane's approval of our race gave us the confidence to continue holding races and we've been pleased to have her attend each year with continued rave reviews in her running column. We will greatly miss seeing her this year at our 4th annual race. She will always be remembered for the encouragement she gave us on our Live Like Liz journey.”
Amy Lakomy - Board Member, Live Like Liz
“Because Diane was such a quiet and unassuming person, you'd never have guessed she was an avid fan of the Live Like Liz race until you read her powerful and complimentary columns. I know Diane worked with Marie on our races, but her strength was the behind-the-scenes work she provided before race day ever arrived. She will be truly missed by the Live Like Liz committee members and the local racing community.”
Mary Ellen Fraboni - President, Live Like Liz
“Diane Sherrer will be greatly missed. I got to know Diane Sherrer when she became involved with Live Like Liz. Diane has been instrumental in the success of the Live Like Liz organization. She wrote positive articles about the first 3 races that were organized by Live Like Liz, bringing awareness to several people that we would not have reached otherwise. Her expertise in running races and journalism made Diane an obvious choice for discussing race decisions with. Her opinion was highly respected by Live Like Liz committee members. Diane earned this respect because she was a delightful, optimistic, and sincere person.”
Bonnie Specchio - Vice President, Live Like Liz
Katie Gingrich (above) Written by Margie Amisano
She had to stop and stare when somebody put that pamphlet in her hands. A young, beautiful girl stared back at her from the front page, the words “Live Like Liz” surrounding her face.
“That’s when it hit me that I had cancer,” said Katie Gingrich. “I was like, this is real.”
Gingrich will now be the keynote speaker at the fourth annual Live Like Liz race on June 7, 2009. The race is held in memory of Elizabeth Amisano, who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2005 when she was only 20 years old. She was 18 when she was diagnosed.
This year’s speaker, an optimistic, energetic young woman, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in January of 2007. She was only 23.
“I thought I had a cyst,” Gingrich said, “so I went to the emergency room. They told me I was too young to have cancer.”
Two surgeries and a year of chemotherapy later, Gingrich, 25, has had to face troubles in her life that no young woman should ever have to endure. The cancer was found at stage 3C, stage 4 being the worst. Both of her ovaries have been removed, though specialists say she will still be able to carry children.
She’s also had an intraperitoneal port put into her chest, just like Elizabeth. It’s a device that delivers chemotherapy directly to the tumor instead of the bloodstream. Only 40 percent of women are eligible to get one.
“I call it my good luck charm,” Gingrich said, smiling.
Through the midst of this pain and suffering, Katie has found her purpose in life.
“I call it a blessing and a curse,” Gingrich said. “It’s taught me what my purpose is, why I’m here. I have cancer for a reason. I have a voice. It’s OK that I have it because now I can help others that have it.”
During the summers, Gingrich volunteers at Camp Good Days on Keuka Lake -- a not-for-profit organization that’s devoted to improving the lives of children, families, and adults that have been affected by cancer.
“I do a lot of fundraising,” Gingrich explained.
On May 2, 2009, she spoke at the Camp Good Day’s Finger Lakes Wine Auction. After she gave a heart-wrenching speech, bidders ended up giving thousands of dollars.
“I just told them that cancer is ugly. Camp Good Days gives you courage to carry ugliness in a pretty world. Cancer needs a voice,” Gingrich said.
Gingrich is making the most of her voice. She is thrilled to speak at the race dedicated to a woman she has never met, yet inspires her every day.
“Liz is my strength, man,” Gingrich said. “I’m really excited to speak at the race. I look at it like an opportunity... I feel so honored that people care about my story so much.”
Katie Gingrich truly reflects those same positive feelings Elizabeth once gave to everyone around her. She has taken the hardest struggle in her life and turned it into something that will make a difference in this world.
“Cancer kills one person a minute in the U.S.,” Gingrich explained. “It’s overwhelming. In one year, we lose more people to cancer than we did in the Civil War.”
Yet Gingrich is using her powerful voice to raise awareness of cancer so that more people may survive.
“The only reason I survived is to deliver this message,” she said. “I swear to God.”
4th Annual Live Like Liz 5K Run/Walk for ovarian cancer awareness June 7, 2009.
Margie Amisano, above, holds the poster she designed for the upcoming Live Like Liz Run/Walk taking place on June 7 in Watkins Glen. She was inspired by an actual photograph of her sister Elizabeth, Liz, Amisano, who after a courageous battle against ovarian cancer, died in 2005 at the age of 20. Liz is silhouetted on the poster. The race/walk begins at the Watkins Glen High School Track and continues on the Catharine Valley Trail. Registration forms are available at www.LiveLikeLiz.org. Race Day Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. and the program begins at 8:45 a.m.
LIVE LIKE LIZ 5K RUN/WALK DATE SET
Live Like Liz, Inc. has set June 7, 2009 for the 4th Annual Live Like Liz 5k Run/Walk. Once again, the starting location will be the Watkins Glen High School Track and the race will continue south on the Catharine Valley Trail. It is a fun time and many prizes are awarded. Please plan on participating in the walk, run, or as a supporter. All registrants are eligible to win prizes.