Cancer Challenge volunteers keep coming back

Cancer Challenge volunteers are loyal.

Several, including Joyce and Dick Jebson have been working the event for more than 20 years.

Joyce Jebson not only returns each year, she returns to tennis registration each year, along with her husband, Dick. They are both tennis players. Joyce Jebson worked at the tennis center for 10 years.

Before the Cancer Challenge, they volunteered for the Phillips Classic, the predecessor to the Cancer Challenge, and remember when tents covered the parking lot in front of the Riordan Hall complex and nationally known entertainers performed each night.

Fran Fish has volunteered for each of the Cancer Challenge’s 22 years. She used to work on the golf course, but after her husband passed away, she decided to move inside. Last week she was helping get lunch ready for all the participants on Friday. Her daughter-

in-law is a five-year survivor of breast cancer.

Sandra Franklin said both her mother and her mother-in-law have had breast cancer.

“It’s important that Cancer Challenge funds stay in our community,” volunteer Audra Flemming said. “They’ve donated millions to the whole spectrum — from prevention to survivorship.”

Volunteers at the first aid tents on Friday were employees of Community Clinics in Springdale and Rogers. They were watching for signs of dehydration and heat stroke.

On the golf course, Julie Dobbs said it was her third year to volunteer. She got some help from Bob Saxton of Pea Ridge, who was volunteering for the fourth time after losing his wife to cancer. He was helping distribute snacks.

At the tennis courts, Lisa Luethje and Annette Shoemaker are experienced volunteers who said they enjoy spending the day at the Cancer Challenge.

Conor Woody/The Weekly Vista Teams of two go head-to-head at the Catfish, Corndogs and Cornhole Tournament portion of the Cancer Challenge on Friday. The tournament was held next to Riordan Hall as part of the 23rd annual Cancer Challenge. WhyteSpyder, a marketing agency based in Fayetteville, put on the event. It was the first time the tournament has been featured as part of the Cancer Challenge, which raised approximately $800,000 this year for a variety of cancer treatment programs.

Lynn Atkins/The Weekly Vista Volunteers who set up lunch for participants of the Cancer Challenge include Bonnie Munch, Letty Hug, Fran Fish, Lillian and Anna Holt, (in back) Audra Fleming, Sandra Franklin and Brian Holt.

Lynn Atkins/The Weekly Vista Annetta Shoemaker and Lisa Luethje were under the first aid tent at the tennis complex for the Cancer Challenge. Both work for Community Care Clinics in Rogers and Springdale.

Lynn Atkins/The Weekly Vista Joyce and Dick Jebsen have volunteered at the tennis registration table of the Cancer Challenge for 22 years.

Lynn Atkins/The Weekly Vista Julie Dobbs is ready with cold water for the golfers who played in the Cancer Challenge Tournament on Friday.