Walk in Love at annual UCAN April fundraiser

The theme for the Sarah Jarboe White United Cancer Assistance Network (UCAN) Walk Saturday, April 27, taken from Ephesians 5:1-2 is “Walk in Love.”

The walk shirts have 120 names on them. While several of these people are survivors, many had their lives cut short by cancer. Each name has a story to tell. The survivors, their family and friends are walking in love, but so are the families of those who died during their battles. They are walking in remembrance and to raise funds to help others.

Sarah Jarboe White’s family remembers her and how she inspired others in their battles with cancer, their fundraising efforts and their choices to have health screenings.

It doesn’t matter how long ago a family member died, their family remembers and mourns them. One name on the shirt this year is Poplar Bluff schools bus driver Sylvia Smittle, who lost her battle more than three decades ago.

Her life and her struggle are still fresh to her family. Her granddaughter Jennifer Brown of Poplar Bluff recalls, “My memaw, Sylvia, was an amazing woman. She was such an inspiration to anyone who had the privilege of knowing her. Even though she passed away when I was very young, I remember her fighting so hard to win her battle with cancer.

“I loved her so much and would’ve liked for her to be in my life for a very long time but apparently God had another plan for her. He must of needed a very special angel for a very special assignment. I feel her presence around me often and I know God placed her there as my Guardian Angel.”

Jennifer Brown said, “UCAN is an amazing organization that helps many people who have the unfortunate diagnosis of cancer. I’m certain my memaw would have benefited from their services had it been around before she passed in 1981.”

Cancer knows no boundaries, said Smittle’s daughter, Brenda Brown of Poplar Bluff.

“It took away someone in my life that could never be replaced, my mother, Sylvia Smittle. She fought her battle diligently and lost, as so many do. She was the greatest person you would ever want to meet and loved everyone she met. Losing her left the deepest hole in my heart. Over 30 years have passed and I still hurt deeply that I can’t see her smiling face. I know she is in a greater place assisting our great creator with any task he might give her and nothing she can’t handle.

“Be great mom. You always were. You gave new meaning to the word mother and no one can outshine you,” Brenda Brown said. “Although I was adopted, mom and I didn’t know the difference and we couldn’t have loved each other any more. The heck with DNA, she was my dear mother and the greatest mother who ever lived.

“Your battles with that dreadful, painful disease are over, but you live in our hearts forever,” Brenda Brown said. “We will always love you so dearly, Cancer may have taken my mother but it can’t take the wonderful memories she gave me. I only hope that UCAN will always be around to help people with their loved ones for years to come and maybe add one more happy moment or day to someone’s life. Although UCAN was not available for my mother in 1981, I’m glad they help people now. Mom, you live on in my heart forever and you were all I could ever ask for in a mother.”

Anyone wanting to Walk in Love may register a team. Registration packets are available at the UCAN office at the Danny Bell Cancer Center.

If you want a shirt, they are $10 each up to XL and $15 for larger sizes. Shirts and team registration packets are available at the UCAN office or online.

More than $200,000 has been raised from this event to help cancer patients with fuel cards, transportation, utilities, groceries, medical expenses, housing, nutritional supplements and many other necessities while they are going through chemotherapy and radiation and unable to continue to work.