Cancer

Marisa O'Neil A Newport Harbor High School senior will celebrate "The Art of Youth" with a student art show on Friday benefiting a children's cancer center. More than 100 paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs will be displayed at the show organized by 17-year-old Matthew Siemonsma. The event is the first put on by his nonprofit organization and school club, Community for a Cure, which he formed earlier last year to benefit the cancer center at Children's Hospital of Orange County.

Betty Wollenstein, the former community facilitator of Costa Mesa High School who designed the campus' parent resource center, died of cancer last week. She was 57. An employee of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District since 1999, Wollenstein spent most of her tenure at Costa Mesa High School. Part of her legacy is starting and monitoring the parent resource center, a room on campus that offers literature, college pamphlets and information meetings for non-English-speaking parents.

      McNulty, Kristin age 37 of Costa Mesa, passed away January 12, 2007 after a courageous 9-year battle with cancer.   Kristin lived her life to the fullest, on her own terms.         Born 9/26/69 in Newport Beach, Kristin’s worked as a Construction Bookkeeper for the Saris-Regis Group.         Kristin’s greatest joy and triumph was her son, Devin.   Diagnosed with Melanoma shortly before his birth in 1997, Devin gave new meaning to her life.

o7 "God may be invisible, but he's in touch. You may not be able to see him, but he is in control." -- Charles R. Swindollf7 I just returned from an invigorating walk after an inspiring talk. The walk was invigorating because, thanks to God, it is a beautiful day. The talk was inspiring because, thanks to God, God works in lives in beautiful ways. The talk that I heard this morning was at "Breakfast With the Mayors," an event patterned after the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. The morning was a great kickoff for Christian Outreach Week next week.

Marisa O'Neil Most walked, others jogged, and a few even rowed, but all had their own reasons for taking part in this year's 24-hour Relay for Life. The annual nationwide event raises funds for cancer research and gives survivors, friends and family a chance to remember those lost to the disease. Roughly 800 people from 45 teams took part at the Newport Harbor High School track, raising more than $100,000. Some, such as retired state Sen. Marian Bergeson, are cancer survivors.

Lindsay Sandham Balboa Island residents know Sheri Drewry as the jovial personality who lights up Wilma's Patio, the charming family restaurant named for her mother that's been serving locals and tourists for 23 years. The Newport Beach Restaurant Assn. knows Drewry as its vice president, and now as this year's honorary cancer survivor for the association's team in the upcoming Relay for Life, which will begin at 6 p.m. Friday and last until 6 p.m. Saturday.

Editor's note: This corrects the day Leeza Gibbons will be in Orange County. The Philharmonic Society of Orange County in association with Soka University hosted a Cherry Blossom Celebration at South Coast Plaza's Jewel Court. The traditional Japanese custom of hanami or flower viewing is held for a few very brief weeks when the petals of the cherry blossoms (sakura) explode on the trees and then gently float to the ground. This season the event carried very special meaning in light of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Helen Wrate passed peacefully on April 30 at her home in Corona Del Mar, after a two year fight with breast cancer. She was attended by her loving husband of 50 years, Dick and her two children, John and Jennifer London. She was born 77 years ago in the 'train station' township of Rook, Pennsylvania to Mary and Robert 'Smokey' Franks. At 26 she moved to California to avoid an overly persistent suitor and move in with her brother, Bob. Their mutual friend Lyla Corrales introduced Helen to her brother Dick and soon after they were wed on February 17th, 1962 in Los Angeles.

Cancer is a good way to die. Not the best way, but a good way. Cancer is not a good way to die if it strikes early, but that is true of any type of death. If it is age appropriate, so to speak, cancer eases everyone into the concept of life without the loved one instead of shocking them into it as would a fatal heart attack or car crash. With many terminal patients and their loved ones, cancer gives them time to say goodbye, to take care of family business and to conquer items on a so-called bucket list.

"Win or lose, your dog treats you the same way," said Mount Everest climber, world adventurer and cancer survivor Alan Hobson. The overcapacity crowd that came to support Hoag Hospital's 14th annual Circle 1000 Cancer brunch at the Four Seasons Hotel, Newport Beach, roared with approval. Hobson, 43, was told by his doctors that he may have three years to live. "I plan to live at least 33 years," replied the small man with the infinite spirit and boundless will.