UT cancer survivor forms team for Komen Race for the Cure

September 21, 2016 | Events, Features, UTMC
By Rebecca Schwan



Until she was diagnosed with breast cancer in spring 2015, it was the kind of thing that happened to someone else.

Now Wendy Howe, The University of Toledo’s assistant director of recruitment events, knows the importance of a team when it comes to fighting cancer.

UT employee and cancer survivor Wendy Howe snuggles with the youngest members of her care team, her children, Abby, Ben, center, and Caleb.

UT employee and cancer survivor Wendy Howe snuggles with the youngest members of her care team, her children, Abby, Ben, center, and Caleb.

On Sunday, Sept. 25, Howe and her team will join thousands of other walkers and runners at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in celebration of her own victory over cancer and in support of all of those who have battled breast cancer.

“My diagnosis meant I had to rely on others to take care of me. Co-workers and friends organized meals, the school principal helped with my kids, my family helped with chores, and my husband researched the best doctors,” she said. “We assembled a team to take on cancer together.”

Howe credits her team at UT’s Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center with providing top-quality care during her cancer treatment. She said the physicians and nurses fought for her, cared for her, and encouraged her as she went through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

A little more than a year later, Howe is living cancer-free.

“Thanks to my team, I’m in a great place right now,” Howe said. “I’m in a place where I can give back.”

Howe is inviting members of the UT community to join her at northwest Ohio’s Race for the Cure. Faculty, physicians, staff and students are welcome to join Howe by registering to join team UT Survivors online at http://komennwohio.org.

“If there’s anything I’ve learned in going through this, it is that people are awesome,” Howe said. “I feel like I have a whole new network of people who have been down this road and have been touched by cancer. It’s a special bond.”

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