The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
RUNNING TO END CANCER
5K run and walk supports local efforts to help cancer patients
ONEIDA, N.Y. >> Though she lost her fight with breast cancer in 2017, Oneida local Jessica Froelick’s compassion lives on in the people who came out to honor her memory and support those affected by cancer.
Almost 300 participants gathered at the Oneida High School Saturday to take part in the Jessica’s Heroes 5K run and walk to raise support and awareness of cancer.
Committee member Amy Ross said when Jessica’s Heroes was first formed, they expected maybe around 150 people for their first year.
“Jessica’s Heroes is exceeding our expectations. We’re extremely happy,” Ross said. “We started with a goal of around 150 runners. Then we realized we could make 200, then 250 and now we’re over 300 with the people registering today. It’s a great thing for the community to come out and remember what a wonderful woman Jessica was and to reach out and help others in the community.”
Ross said she and Jessica worked together at Oneida Healthcare and she had recently retired when Jessica was diagnosed with can-
cer. For the last year of her life, Ross said, she was Jessica’s daytime caregiver.
“I am very personally invested in this,” Ross said.
Ross said Jessica received help from the Oneida Healthcare fund “Laurie’s Legacy,” a program that supports people with cancer by helping them make ends meet. This can be by paying bills, providing gas money, getting groceries or anything else that might help put a cancer patient’s mind at ease.
“It made her a little bit more relaxed during her medical care,” Ross said. “Our belief is that if you’re relaxed and not stressed about making ends meet, you’ll heal more quickly.”
Joining in on the run was Oneida local Stephanie Burke. Burke said she didn’t know much going into Jessica’s Heroes; she knew a bit of her story and knew the cause. But being a runner and wanting to help, she signed up.
“That was the big thing, participating in a good cause,” Burke said. “Helping and being part of our community, especially for someone who was such a large part of the community.”
Burke said she her grandfather and grandmother had been impacted by cancer.
“My grandmother had breast cancer. It’s not what she passed from, she survived it,” Burke said.
Burke said between Jessica being a close Oneida local, cancer awareness, support for cancer re- search and survivors, Jessica’s Heroes can bring everyone together from the community and touches everyone’s lives.
“Almost everyone has been impacted by cancer. I’m looking at this as a community event to not only remember Jessica, but everyone in their lives that are affected,” Ross said. “And I think we all want to do something for the people we see fighting the battle, because we all have lived it. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t had a family member affected. It’s something we all can understand and I’m glad to see everyone coming together.”
Ward 5 Councilor and Deputy Mayor Jim Chamberlain proclaimed Oct. 20, 2018 as Jessica’s Heroes Day. Chamberlain said Jessica was a friend of his daughter’s and knewshe was a great person.
“We can make it Jess’s day,” Chamberlain said.
Chuck Jones, Froelick’s father, said she taught him as much as he taught her.
“Even in her last days, she was so concerned about other people,” Jones said. “This is what this is all about. Helping other people.”