Village of Westmont
Date Issued: May 20, 2013
Ashley, a cancer survivor who received treatment from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, will be the 2013 Race To The Flag Grand Marshal and start the race which will be held Sunday, May 26, 8 a.m. at Ty Warner Park, Blackhawk Drive and Plaza Drive in Westmont. Proceeds from the race benefit St. Jude.
Now in her 20s, Ashley was referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital when she was diagnosed with Ependymoma in 2001 at the age of 9. Ashley stayed at St. Jude for two months as she was treated with 33 rounds of radiation.
St. Jude continued follow-ups with Ashley and after five years found there was no evidence of disease. Her doctor at St. Jude asked if she would sign on for another five years under a protocol that would follow her long term care to watch for any radiation related effects. Ashley agreed and on her 7 year check-up the MRI revealed that her cancer was back. Ashley’s cancer came back in a different area of the brain as well as several tumors along the thoracic spin and a larger tumor in the sacrum. Ashley’s doctor prepared the family for the possibility that Ashley would not survive treatment. She bravely started new treatments and continued on chemo for more than 20 months.
Ashley continues to have side effects from treatment and surgery, but is now 21 years old and currently attending college and plans to work in the oncology field. She is here today because St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the treatment they provided.
The Race To The Flag Committee is proud to be part of an event that raises money for such a worthy cause. To learn more about the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Race To The Flag 5K, visit their website at www.RaceToTheFlag.org.
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Contact: Larry McIntyre
Village of Westmont Media Relations Coordinator
630-417-0280, lmcintyre@westmont.il.gov
