George Devanney
Posted by Love Hope Strength on Apr 4, 2008
Cancer will touch each and every one of us in our lifetime. It struck my family last year and changed my life. Since returning from my trek to Base Camp Everest last October, I’ve struggled with an answer to the inevitable question from everyone – “So how was it?”
Only recently did I find that answer. It came in the form of an email from Shannon Foley, Executive Director of The Love Hope Strength Foundation in which she described all the things the LHSF has been able to do in Nepal as a result of Everest Rocks. Included are a Mammography machine, heating/cooling devices for pre and post surgery, numerous items for the Children’s Cancer Center and the purchase of the first ever Brachytherapy Machine (internal radiation).
Until this point, the Everest Trek and my support of the Love, Hope, Strength Foundation had been a surreal journey. Now with this email, it became very clear that 38 people who journeyed to Mount Everest in the name of fighting back against Cancer had a very real and substantial impact by giving people access to quality treatment and the hope of survival.
In life, I don’t believe there are coincidences. I believe there are opportunities which present themselves for reasons we sometimes don’t understand. However, when they arise you must grab them, for they may never present themselves again.
As I think back to when we first announced Union County’s Musicfest partnership with the Love Hope Strength Foundation at the top of the Empire State Building in March 2007, little did I know how I was about to be personally impacted by Cancer. While standing there, I was ever mindful of the fact that I was soon to undergo a biopsy for prostate cancer. Many things run through your head when confronted with what is a life threatening disease for so many. It was here that I made a decision that if I was fortunate enough to have negative results that I wanted to play a larger role in helping this newly formed Cancer foundation. I began to make plans to accompany the LHSF to base camp Everest. As I came to this decision, I was acutely aware of the fact that Cancer is a disease which will touch everyone in their lifetime. What I wasn’t quite ready for was its impact on my family.
Before leaving for my Everest trek, I would undergo two biopsies’, my wife would undergo a biopsy and my mother was diagnosed with and battled breast cancer. This was not the road I envisioned when I first learned about the LHSF, but, it sure did make me a believer in its cause and urgency. I had a personal understanding of the importance of early detection, the value of having the best doctors and equipment to treat you, and the helpfulness of being able to talk to someone who understands what you are going through when confronted with Cancer. I left proud to be a small part of an incredible group of people about to make history and do all it could to address these needs.
I returned humbled by the heroic efforts of so many people both on the trek and at home. Quite honestly, raising the money and taking part in the trek was relatively easy compared with the efforts of the Cancer survivors on the trek. Or those who stayed behind to pick up the increased responsibilities, including friends and loved ones like my wife and sons who were without a husband and father for 21 days. In addition to being supportive, it was their encouragement and understanding in notes, emails and messages that gave me the strength to help others.
Mike Peters has written, “It is our role as a foundation to keep the fight going to make sure not only people but governments sit up and take notice.” Words cannot adequately describe the pride I have in the Union County Freeholder Board for doing just that. Not only were they supportive in my trip to Mount Everest, but they had the vision to make Musicfest more than just a concert in the park by involving the LHSF and stem cell research last year. This year, Musicfest ’08 will team up with the LHSF to bring The Rock On! Walkathon & 5K Rock N’ Run on Saturday September 6th. Our local beneficiary will be The Valerie Fund, an organization which supports children with Cancer and Blood Disorders in New Jersey.
At 46, I’m currently the County Manager for Union County which serves more than half a million people in 21 municipalities. Born and raised in New Jersey, I live in Berkeley Heights with my wife, Angie, son Ryan and soon to be daughter Abbey, who we expect on August 1. I have two sons from a previous marriage, George and John.
In closing, I would like to thank YOU for helping to make all of this happen and allowing me to continue in this battle.
