W. Chicago woman's battle inspires friends to help

Candy Heideman found out she had breast cancer in 1998 and had a mastectomy.

Three years later, she learned the cancer was back, this time in her bones.

"I figured I had six months left," said Heideman, a West Chicago resident and nationally ranked dog trainer.

She still has to have chemotherapy every three weeks, but after seven years, Heideman says she's "still doing everything I want to do."

Her experience -- as one of the nearly 10.8 million Americans living with cancer, according to 2004 National Cancer Institute data -- sparked a desire to help others, and has inspired others to help.

Friends in the dog-training community formed a team to participate in one of the area's upcoming Relays For Life, which are run by the American Cancer Society to honor patients and raise money for cancer research.

The idea struck Liz Mishima, a Glen Ellyn dog trainer, as she was reading the paper on the Metra train and saw a Relay for Life ad. Mishima, who'd lost her brother to lung cancer, wanted to help Heideman.

Mishima thought of how people in the dog-training community are always looking for venues to practice obedience and mused that perhaps her friends could host dog events and donate the money to the American Cancer Society.

With that, the "Sit, Stay, Walk to Find a Cure" team, led by Mishima and co-captain Lori Kantner of Wheaton, was born. So far, 19 dog trainers have joined the team for Friday's Glen Ellyn-Wheaton-Winfield Relay For Life.

Mishima said it's a change for the dog trainers.

"It's unique, because people in the dog community do things for dogs, for shelters," she said. "But we thought we'd use the dog community to support the human side of the team."

While members have gathered pledges, the team also has coordinated various fundraisers, selling homemade dog treats and holding obedience events such as one last week in Hanover Park.

Heideman said the dog community has been "thrilled" to help the cancer society while working with the dogs.

"People felt very rewarded for coming to do something they wanted to do, anyway," Heideman said.

The dogs are participating in other ways, too. Several are slated to perform demos with their trainers at the relay.

But dog trainers make up just one team in a diverse pool of people participating in Glen Ellyn's Relay For Life.

Leslie Abrahamson of the American Cancer Society said many types of people -- "from grandparents down to babies in strollers" -- get involved, often forming teams around business, families, and survivor and caregiver networks.

"(The relay) brings the old-time community festival back again, the neighborhood, community feeling," she said.

The cancer society spends about 89 cents for every dollar it receives on research and direct services that go well beyond research. Additional services include rides to health care appointments, medical bills assistance, a wig program and early detection programs.

Heideman can't stress enough the importance of awareness and screening for cancer. She said she hopes her own story gives people strength and hope.

"My biggest goal in life is to help people feel strength and want to keep going and not be afraid that they can't keep going," Heideman said.

But she still has time for her dogs.

"The dogs are special," she said. "We teach them a lot but we learn so much from them. When there's tough times, they keep us going. They're wonderful."

Relays for Life

Elk Grove: Friday-Saturday, Elk Grove High. Info: Ellie at (847) 368-1166 or ellie.amendola@cancer.org.

Glen Ellyn-Wheaton-Winfield: Friday-Saturday, Glenbard South High. Info: leslie.abrahamson@cancer.org or (630) 932-1141, or kafouts@yahoo.com or (630) 549-1065.

McHenry South: Friday-Saturday, Crystal Lake South High. Info: Lisa Solak at (815) 479-8076, or Jenna Hague at (630) 879-9009 or jenna.hague@cancer.org.

Naperville-South: Friday-Saturday, Neuqua Valley Freshman Center. Info: Dani Fassler at (630) 932-1141 or danielle.campbell@cancer.org.

Roselle-Bloomingdale-Itasca: Friday-Saturday, Lake Park High West campus. Info: Ashley Carlson at (630) 932-1141 or at Ashley.Carlson@Cancer.org.

Green Oaks-Libertyville-Mundelein-Vernon Hills: Saturday-Sunday, Mundelein High. Info: Nicole Furrow at (847) 317-0028 or relayforlifeglmv.com.

Wheeling: Saturday-Sunday, Wheeling High. Info: relayforlifewheeling.com or Doug Adolph at (847) 368-1166 or doug.adolph@cancer.org.

Addison-Lombard-Villa Park: June 13-14, Montini Catholic High. Info: RelayForLifeALV@yahoo.com.

Bartlett-Hanover Park-Streamwood: June 13-14, Community Park, Hanover Park. Info: relayforlifebhps.com or Doug Adolph at (847) 368-1166.

Bensenville-Wood Dale: June 13-14, Fenton High. Info: Bonnie McKnight at bonnie.mcknight@cancer.org or (630) 932-1141.

Carol Stream: June 13-14, Glenbard North High. Info: Michael Lair at (630) 932-1141.

Elgin Community College: June 13-14, Elgin Community College. Info: Keri Nelson, (630) 879-9009, ext. 3.

Palatine-Rolling Meadows-Inverness: June 13-14, Palatine High. Info: (847) 368-1166, relayforlifeprmi.com or ellie.amendola@cancer.org.

Barrington: June 14-15, Good Shepherd Hospital. Info: Grace Catalano at (847) 368-1166.

Buffalo Grove-Stevenson: June 14-15, Stevenson High. Info: relayforlifebuffalogrove.com, Sarah Theriault at (847) 317-0025 or sarah.theriault@cancer.org, or Shannon Wheeler at (847) 317-0025 or shannon.wheeler@cancer.org.

Naperville North-Lisle: June 20-21, Naperville North High. Info: Ashley Carlson at (630) 932-1141 or Ashley.Carlson@Cancer.org.

Oak Brook-Hinsdale-Burr Ridge: June 20-21, Oak Brook Park District. Info: leslie.abrahamson@cancer.org or call (630) 932-1141.

Schaumburg: June 20-21, Alexian Field. Info: Doug Adolph at (847) 368-1168 or doug.adolph@cancer.org.

Lake Zurich-Wauconda-Island Lake: June 21-22, Paulus Park, Lake Zurich. Info: Sarah Theriault at (847) 317-0025 or sarah.theriault@cancer.org.

Arlington Heights: June 27-28, Hersey High. Info: relayforlifearlington.com or (847) 368-1166.

Itasca: June 27-28, 1 Pierce Place. Info: Bonnie McKnight at bonnie.mcknight@cancer.org or (630) 932-1141.

Gurnee-Wadsworth: July 12-13, Warren Township High O'Plaine Campus. Info: Harry Critz at (847) 970-0721 or splitt1963@yahoo.com; or Jessica Critz at (847) 970-0831 or orange21@comcast.net; or Sarah Theriault at (847) 317-0025 or sarah.theriault@cancer.org.

Hoffman Estates: July 18-19, Hoffman Estates High. Info: Mike Jacobson at mike.jacobson@cancer.org, or Robert Swan at (847) 884-9429 or robert.swan@sbcglobal.net.

Grayslake-Round Lake: July 26-27, Esper A. Petersen Family Foundation Aquatic Center. Info: Nikki Furrow at (847) 317-0025 or nicole.furrow@cancer.org.