Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Tuesday, October 05, 2010

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Carin Addams, whose mother is a retired teacher, suffered a recurrence of breast cancer.

Breast cancer may not have directly impacted all the middle schoolers at Jessie Clark, but the students now at least know someone battling the disease, and they are doing their part to help.

In an all-day Relay for Life, the kids walked laps on the school track in support of Carin Addams, whose mother is a retired teacher. They will divide the monetary donations between Addams and the Susan B. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists.

This is familiar terrain for Addams, who was first diagnosed a few years ago. When faculty and staff who had worked with her mom, Cheryl Brown, heard about the recurrence, they realized they had a face for the school fundraiser in October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. They recently introduced Addams to students on the morning news show.

“It’s more of a personal awareness because the kids saw me,” said Addams, whose hair has since fallen out again amid the chemotherapy. “They may think of only older people having cancer. I’m 37. They may think, ‘Wow, that’s my mom’s age! That’s my mom’s friend out there.’ They will see me more personally affected but also know ‘She’s still doing good and out here supporting us.’”

Addams and several family members spent part of the day cheering on the walkers at Jessie Clark, where she knows some of the kids’ parents.

“It’s hard to put in words. How do you thank somebody? They have no idea what it means to me,” she said.

A sixth-grade class completed the first half-hour session around the track Tuesday morning – with kids walking in pairs and small groups.

“You feel different about it since you know her,” 12-year-old Taylor Mozer said of participating on behalf of Addams.

Some students had also decorated small paper hearts with get-well messages.

“When my dad died, everybody told me it’s bad before it gets good, so I wrote that for her,” Taylor said.

Classmate Kashae Young, who lost a cousin to cancer two years ago, also recognizes the importance of their efforts for Addams.

“This is the second time she’s had cancer and she’s been fighting it. She recovered, but it came back around,” Kashae said. “We’re trying to raise money to help her cure it.”

Along with the relay, it was a “Pink Out” day at school, and an afternoon barbecue capped the activities. Later this month, Jessie Clark will present the students’ donation to Addams at a girls’ basketball doubleheader.  

“Carin has given a personal face to the plight,” said Kelly Profitt, a seventh-grade science and language arts teacher. “By giving it a face and a name, it helps bring that sense of community in.” 

Addams posts updates on her condition through the CaringBridge website, where supporters can also add words of encouragement.

“I believe God was there for me five years ago, and he’s never let go of me,” she said. “I’m so thankful to have the support of family and friends and people I don’t even know.”

Brown, who was still teaching at Jessie Clark five years ago when Addams went through the initial bout with cancer, said this Relay for Life will have even more impact because the students have a connection with her and her daughter.

“They may not realize exactly what they’re doing now, but they will look back on this and remember it,” she said.