Volunteer Corner

Your source for stories and information about current BCAN volunteers.   You might be inspired!

Volunteer Stories

MaryAnn Aregood

In 2008 Mary Ann Aregood lost her husband of 24 years, Jack Aregood, to bladder cancer.  Jack was first diagnosed in 2002 and had a kidney removed.  After that he received BCG treatments and was also in two clinical trials.  From 2005 till 2008, he received chemotherapy.  During the early stages of Jack’s illness Mary Ann found little information available about bladder cancer.  However one day she came across the BCAN website.  It was at that moment Mary Ann decided that she would do volunteer work for BCAN.  Before Jack passed away  MaryAnn promised him that she would do what she could to raise awareness of bladder cancer so that what happened to him may not have to happen to others.

True to her word MaryAnn kept her promise by:

• Providing ongoing continuing support to BCAN in Jack’s memory
• Becoming a volunteer on the BCAN Medical Outreach Program – a key part of making sure urologists all across the country have supplies of the BCAN handbook “Bladder Cancer Basics for the Newly Diagnosed” to give to their newly diagnosed patients
• Organizing a walk on the Jersey shore in 2011 and 2012 as part of BCAN’s annual national initiative to raise awareness of bladder cancer – and she has already signed up for 2013!

Thank you Mary Ann.

Nancy Parrish

In July 2009 almost 40 bladder cancer survivors, family and friends met in North Carolina for a picnic organized by local BCAN volunteer and bladder cancer survivor, Nancy Parrish.  Some of them had met online through the online support community and some learned about the picnic through local media coverage.  In North Carolina they all found a community in which they could talk freely about what they had been through.  One of the participants, Veronica Tompkins, subsequently wrote about the picnic for her local newspaper in Georgia.  An abridged version of that story is available here. And news stories about the picnic were also published by papers in New Jersey and Florida where other volunteers raised awareness of bladder cancer by telling their stories. The fourth picnic will take place this September, once again, in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. Small local activities can be a very powerful way to create connections, support each other, and raise awareness. For information about the 2012 picnic contact Nancy at balihigh@bellsouth.net

Nancy also volunteers with BCAN by talking with others affected by a bladder cancer diagnosis.

Thank you Nancy.