Olympians Speak to Cancer Groups near Chicago

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Survivors tell cancer groups stories of defeating disease
By Amy McLaughlin Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted 10/27/2004
Olympic gold medalist Paul Hait swam in the 1960 Rome Olympics after a serious back injury and leg paralysis.

His good friend, Jerry White, was diagnosed a decade ago with a 20-pound cancerous tumor on his liver.

The recurring point of these stories is both went on to survive devastating disease and illness.

They'll bring their stories to Arlington Heights this weekend in a free seminar sponsored by Palatine-based Wellness Place, a cancer support organization, and the Seeds of Joy Foundation, an organization founded by the two speakers.

Hait, who lives in Oregon, and White, who lives in Texas, will be joined by cancer survivors, a psychologist and others at the half-day program. Each speaker will focus on five pathways to overcome illness: love, faith, hope, mind and medicine.

"One thing we're trying to do is awaken the doctor in all of us, which is really coining a phrase that was given by Albert Sweitzer," said Hait, a high school swimmer who trained for the Olympics after suffering a serious back injury in 1959.

Mary Sheahen, vice president of operations at Wellness Place, said the messages work nicely with what their organization tries to do for cancer survivors.

"So many people are interested in this - what effect does your mind have on your body's response to illness and healing," Sheahen said. "It's really cool for us because it is so much about what we do here at Wellness Place."

Hait and White spoke last year at Wellness Place, Sheahen said, and later they joined forces to found Seeds of Joy.

Sheahen said they are tying the presentation in with Arlington Heights' Arlington Beats Cancer program, which started this fall. That program includes displays and education material about cancer and cancer survivors, a teen video contest and a teen anti-smoking campaign. For more information about Arlington Beats Cancer, visit the village's Web site at www.vah.com.

Saturday's program will also feature a video message from Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist and former Wheaties cereal spokesman.

The program is free but Wellness Place is taking reservations. Call (847) 221-2400.

So far, about 150 people have registered and Sheahen said they're hoping for more.

Sheahen said they're able to offer it free because of sponsorship of the two main organizations plus others, including the Sheraton.