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Knox County Remembers Cancer Victims & Survivors
A Galesburg woman and cancer survivor says she's getting stronger every day.

27-year old Amber Hendricks spoke for survivors at Friday night's opening ceremonies marking the annual Knox County Relay for Life at Knox College.

Hendricks was diagnosed with Stage Three Papillary Carcinoma not long before her 25th birthday, has had several surgeries and countless treatments. She says it was awful to hear the word "cancer," and even more awful to know how far it had gone, and to hear how her family reacted.

Then, Hendricks says, after her second surgery, it hit her.

"I decided that feeling sorry for myself and moping around would get me nowhere," Hendricks said. "A positive attitude and humor would not only help me get stronger, but it would help my loved ones get past everything, too. They needed me to be strong just as much as I needed them to be."

So Hendricks says she started a blog and utilized Facebook, writing a letter to cancer on her page -- all of which says helped her a lot. At one point she thought she'd lose her voice, but didn't, and sang at last night's ceremony.

Over $104,000 had been raised from this year's Relay for Life as of Friday afternoon, with proceedings wrapping up Saturday morning.

Relays for Life also were held in Warren and Henderson Counties. Over $32,000 has been raised so far in Warren County, while around $8,000 has been raised in Henderson County -- all for the American Cancer Society.









(WGIL News Story and Photos by Kyle Schassburger)
07 13 12 by Newsroom
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