Special to The PREVIEW
Photo courtesy Cheryl Class-EricksonA 5K race, run/walk will take place Saturday, June 8, and is geared for all ages to come together to Jog for Julie. All proceeds from this event will go to help Julie Knapp pay for future treatments in her battle against cancer.
Julie, her husband, Mike, and their daughter, Rylie, moved to Pagosa Springs in 2007. Three weeks later, they traveled to China to adopt their son, Talon, who was nearing his fifth birthday. Talon at the time of adoption was completely deaf.
The Knapp family easily settled into Pagosa Springs, embracing it as their home. They are active members of Grace in Pagosa Church and are involved in various events and community activities.
Mike is a Realtor with Pagosa Brokers. Julie is a stay-at-home wife and mother. She homeschools their two children who are now 9 and 10.
Julie was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, stage 3, on Feb. 17, 2012. After much consultation with doctors, and hours of research and prayer, Julie began chemotherapy in March 2012 and continued with the treatment through June 14, 2012.
The next decision involved surgery and, again, Julie and Mike consulted doctors, researched possibilities and prayed. Deciding to have surgery was weighty, but Julie felt God put the right doctors in the right place to make this step easier to endure. On July 24, 2012, Julie underwent a four-hour surgery. Follow up surgery for Julie took place on Nov. 6, 2012.
On Dec. 12, 2012, Julie was diagnosed with stage 4, bone cancer metastasis. Metastatic cancer is cancer that has spread from the place where it first started to another place in the body. For a month, beginning in December, Julie underwent daily radiation treatments.
The new year, 2013, began with the knowledge that another Pet Scan (Julie’s third) would take place in April. On April 22, Julie’s scan revealed cancer metastasis to three lymph nodes, two spots on bone and a spot in her right fallopian tube. Julie will meet with a doctor on May 16 to discuss another surgery.
Julie has been getting a bone-building inoculation monthly and will continue to do so. However, at this time, the doctors Julie has been seeing in the United States have no other suggestions for a future treatment plan.
Julie and Mike have remained faithful in investigating treatments that have proven successful in the battle against cancer. Through Jog for Julie we can help raise the money needed for Julie to go to Switzerland and get treatment there. This benefit fund-raiser is a 5K race, run/walk being held Saturday, June 8. Runners or walkers age 18 and up can register for $30. Registration fee for teens is $20. Children 12 and under are free with a paying adult. Runners will start the race and walkers will follow. Families with little ones are welcome to bring strollers and wagons. All participants are encouraged to get sponsors. Anyone collecting $100 or more from sponsors will have his/her registration fee waived.
Sponsorship forms and money collected should be turned in at registration, June 8, the day of the race. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the race will start at 10. There will be prizes awarded, including a prize for the participant who raises the most in sponsorship money. There will also be a prize for the participant wearing the best combination of pink (breast cancer awareness) and green (Julie’s chosen race color).
You can sign up and pick up a sponsorship form for Jog for Julie at Grace in Pagosa, Centerpoint Church, Crossroads Church, The Cowboy Church, Assembly of God, The Methodist Church, Pagosa Bible, Restoration Fellowship and Higher Grounds Coffee Shop.
A silent auction will take place the morning of the race, as well. Some wonderful items are being donated by local businesses. There will also be a bake sale with delicious, fresh-baked items for purchase. Hot dogs, chili dogs, chips and drinks will be available for a reasonable price beginning at 11 a.m. Dell Mellette will be available 9 a.m.-noon with the BioPhotonic Scanner. The scan takes less then two minutes and gives you your antioxidant score. Dell is charging $20 per person.
Jog for Julie has something for everyone and all proceeds go to help with the cost of the medical treatment Julie will receive in Switzerland. It is our goal to raise $9,000. We look forward to a great turnout as we all gather together to support the Knapp family and Jog for Julie.
Check out Jog for Julie on Facebook for updates.
Anyone who would like to help Julie, but is unable to be a part of Jog for Julie, can contribute to the Benefit of Julie Knapp account at the Bank of The San Juans.
