The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
LIFE SAVERS BALL HONORS THE 2024 LIVING ANGEL
Jeanette Willis of Lorain wins annual award
The 38th annual American Cancer Society Life Savers Ball, presented by Cleveland Clinic, was hosted at the John A. Spitzer Conference Center, 1005 Abbe Rd N in Elyria.
Since its inception, the event has raised more than $3.8 million to make a positive difference in the lives of those battling cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
The main focus of the evening is the presentation of the Dr. Alex and Maria Zolli Living Angel Award, which is granted to a nominee who has direct involvement in the field of cancer by working with patients, or through personal experience.
“Our angels portray powerful messengers of the shortcoming of canceras they navigated through their crucibles of adversity, they exposed its limitations,” said Dr. Alex Zolli in a speech.
“For them, cancer did not cripple their love, they forbid cancer to shatter their hope, they denied cancer from eroding their faith, they did not permit cancer to silence their courage and they proved that cancer could not conquer their spirit.”
The 2024 Living Angel Award recipient, Jeanette Willis, has made a “lasting imprint in our community”, Zolli said. Willis, who is from Lorain, has a passion for helping others and service, which dates to when she was 16 working her first job, and stays true to that through her non-profit, Health Awareness Network Connection.
Through her non-profit, Willis aims to educate the community on the aspects of a healthy lifestyle and encourage health promotion through events while touching on four main health topics: mental health, cancer, domestic violence and stroke awareness.
“The modest sponsorship money she generates covers only a small percentage of the costs, so what does our angel do?,” said Zolli. “She provides the remaining necessary dollars out of her own pocket.”
According to Zolli, Willis and her team created and distributed over 200 medicine vials for patients as they re
ceived chemotherapy, colored pink for breast cancer and each containing
a months-worth of bible verses.
Through the many services Willis has provided, one of her most notable roles is being caregiver to her mother through her kidney cancer diagnosis
and passing; then again for her husband who passed with lung cancer.
“Reflecting on those experiences, she considers them both unfortunate and fortunate,” said Zolli.
“She felt honored to have
the opportunity to care for the two loves of her life.”
Willis said for close to 20 years, she has been involved in the set-up and decorating of the Life Savers Ball, but never thought she would have the honor
of taking the stage to accept an award.
“I never, ever imagined myself being the one up there winning, that just blew my mind,” Willis said.
“This means a lot to me for my mother and my husband,
because they both felt I should get something, so I know they’re looking down on me for this and they’re just as happy as they could be because this is all they ever wanted.”