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CANYON CORRIDOR CONNECTION 2016 | 41
Denver Broncos fan, who considers covering the race her favorite GCU
assignment.
Tears welled up in Delilah Bojorquez’s eyes as she remembered her 3-year-
old daughter, Azalea Frankie Harper, who passed away from intrinsic
pontine glioma, a cancerous brain tumor, on Jan. 3, 2015.
“It was very devastating, and it is still hard now trying to find ways to be
happy and find the blessing in it,” Bojorquez said while leaning on a friend
for support. “I kept waiting for the moment when I would wake up. I just
felt numb, and I didn’t understand until we started going through the
radiations and the doctor’s appointments — that’s when it all became real.”
Because she found it difficult to talk about her daughter, Bojorquez said she
instead devoted herself to making the last seven months with her daughter
the best months of her life.
“If it meant for everyone to get up and sing and dance, that’s what we did.
If it meant watching ‘Frozen’ for the thousandth time, that’s what we did.
We just kept her comfortable, and that’s how we found our strength,” she
said.
While Bojorquez still mourns the loss of Azalea, she said she has decided
to turn the experience into something good: She wants to live life to the
fullest, the way her daughter would want her to.
Shawnee Chanley signed up to join the cause in honor of herself and
her 16-year-old daughter. While her daughter wasn’t next to her, they’ve
supported each other as they face the pain of double cancer.
“Everything has happened really fast, and it’s been very exhausting,”
Chanley said. “We never really had a chance to absorb any of it, but now
for the most part we can begin to process it.”
Chanley was in a car accident last February, and after a CT scan in the
hospital, she was diagnosed with stage four cancer. Then, in April, her
daughter was diagnosed with stage three melanoma.
“We still have a few more rounds of treatment and radiation to go, but
we’re sticking together,” Chanley said.
Sarah Timmons celebrated with the “Joy Squad,” a team of friends, church
members and family who wore the words proudly on their gold headbands.
Timmons recalled how before the diagnosis, her son Josiah was constantly
sick.
“There were fevers, congestion, he had ear tubes put in, adenoids taken out
and with that, the surgery showed signs of cancer,” Timmons said. “I was
relieved to find an answer because I knew something wasn’t right, but I
trusted the Lord knew the plan for Josiah’s life.”
Josiah was diagnosed with cancer on Oct. 29, 2015, and finished his
treatment at Phoenix Children’s Hospital in February.
While treating cancer was difficult and energy-consuming, Timmons said
she owes it to the hospital for their support.
“They were amazing,” Timmons said. “If I needed a hug or had a question
about his diet or needed someone to talk to, they cared. That’s what people
need — to know that there are people who care.”
Yasmeen Hafez was passed down from the arms of one family member to
the next. That was the moment her relatives have been waiting for — the
chance to hold her all over again and to create new memories.
Two months ago, the 1-year-old bundle of joy beat cancer. With a head full
of curls,and a tiny scar on her neck, she is as vibrant as ever.
“When a child is a cancer patient, it takes a toll on the entire family,” her
aunt Stephanie Casillas said. “Right now, it’s all about holding and hugging
her and watching her dance to ‘Frozen.’ “For a long time we had to get used
to seeing her with her tubes and accept that we couldn’t carry her. But as
soon as she starts twirling, we all stop because she deserves that.”
Raiyn poked fun at her mom, Angela Meade-Pinner, as she choked up in
tears. “You should record her,” she told her older sister. But Meade-Pinner’s
tears were those of joy, and all she could do was squeeze Raiyn between
her arms.
Raiyn is a six-year cancer survivor who had one of her kidneys removed
after she was diagnosed with cancer at 17 months.
“She’s our everything,” Meade-Pinner said. “Cancer was a roller-coaster
and it took a lot of making a new ‘normal’ for ourselves, but God gave us a
second chance with her.”
Raiyn giggled when Meade-Pinner nudged her and asked if she was happy
to be alive.
Her dad, Daniel, shared their joy. “It’s a miracle,” he said.
At 18 years old, the teen said that after X-rays showed a tumor in his chest,
it felt surreal.
“I definitely didn’t believe it to be true,” he said. “I thought somebody my
age was invincible and cancer was something I didn’t have to worry about,
but three months ago I was sitting on the couch on anabolic steroids, puffy
and always pushing a wheelchair, and I never thought that I would be able
to walk or run again.”
Although Pachuilo’s treatment is scheduled to last two more years, he
expressed joy in being able to stand on his own two feet again. He also
is proud to serve as a mentor for other children facing cancer at Cardon
Children’s Medical Center in Mesa.
“I’m finally at the point again where I can run again, and there’s no
better way to show people than to run in this 5K race,” Pachuilo said. “It’s
definitely a blessing and Godsend for me to be able to do that because the
kids and I encourage each other all the time — they fight hard, and that’s
what gets me through my fight.”
First-place finishers in the 10K run were Nicholas Coury, 28, with a time of
35 minutes, 31 seconds and Lauren Humphrey, 27, with a 44:47. In the 5K,
the winners were Robert Schultz, 50, with a 17:39 and Madisyn Van Sickle,
19, with a 19:50.
Statistically, childhood cancer rates have been rising slightly the last few
decades, and about 10,380 American children under the age of 15 are
presumed to be diagnosed with cancer in 2016. If there is one major thing
that GCU’s race proved, it’s that cancer occurs regularly and randomly, so
it takes a community to take on the fight.
Ildi Kerr (carrying flag) was among the runners.
“The word cancer is a really big word — it’s a really scary word,” said
Debbie Accomazzo, GCU’s community outreach manager and also the race
director.
“I’m proud of this community because from inside the university, to all
the families battling cancer, to sponsors and vendors, this is an amazing
example of how a community beats cancer. If I feel anything today, it’s
pride in the people around me.”
Emma and her family also were overwhelmed by the support.
“You see that there is a lot of love for our kids, and this is a great
community to be a part of,” Ildi Kerr said. “This is an event that we will be
a part of next year and for the rest of our lives.”
Contact Jeannette Cruz at (602) 639-6631 or
Communi t y Highl ights
Members of the Havocs were among the supporters
at the finish line cheering on the runners.