Journey to the Cure
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2007 Pitman Scholarship Recipient
December 2007
On July 28th, the Journey to the Cure board and committee members presented the award to Leanne personally. They were so moved by her story, they wanted to meet her and her mother, Cindy. So they ventured out into the beautiful countryside of central Illinois to her family homestead. Located on a sprawling pig farm, Butch Hovarter, Board member and Ty Pennington wanna-be, stood in the front yard and called for Leanne through a very loud megaphone.
Laurie Foster, the Craig Pitman Scholarship Chairman, announced on July 27th, 2007 that the committee had unanimously chosen Leanne Koeller from Flanagan, Illinois to be its first recipient of this award. "The entire committee was deeply touched by her application and her circumstances. Leanne and her family are truly deserving and we wish we could do more for them."
Leanne Koeller, a freshman at The University of Illinois will be majoring in education and would like to be a biology teacher. Her mother Cindy has Stage IV breast cancer.
She was greeted by a dozen of the jttc team, including Sarah Pitman, mother of Craig Pitman. Sarah presented Leanne with her award, some flowers and a big hug. Carol Samia, board member and survivor presented Leanne and her mother with Journey to the Cure logo golf shirts and a Joy Basket.
Leanne is currently a freshman at the University of Illinois, she plans on majoring in education, as a means to her goal of becoming a biology teacher. In her essay, she wrote "One of the reasons why I would like to teach science is because biology and anatomy will help me learn more about cancer. If I could ever help discover a cure for cancer I would do it in a heartbeat, so families don't have to go through the pain that mine is going through today."
In her application she also talked about what an inspiration her mother is to her. "The biggest influence in my life is Cindy Koeller. Everyday she wakes up and gets ready to go to school. She spends 8 hours a day with young people in a classroom. She does this not because it is her job, but because she wants to. She is a teacher. After a tiring day at work she comes hom to her husband and daughter, and even if she is exhausted she manages to put supper on the table. Cindy is not able to do all of the things she used to be able to do because her body hurts so much. However, she manages and still makes the best of life. Cindy Koeller is a lady who would bend over backwards for anyone, even if she didn't know the person that well. She has influenced me to want to become a teacher so I can encourage young children and help them with their lives. Not only is Cindy a good lady , but I am also proud to call her mom. My mom is a fighter. She will never lose hope. This has all taught me to never give up and always to believe."
Well, we believe in you, Leanne Koehler and you are in our thoughts and prayers everyday. May your journey through school and into education be a blessed and successful one. We thank you for giving us the privilege of being a small part of it.
Sarah Pitman, Leanne Koeller, Cindy Koeller,
Laurie Foster (Scholarship Chairman)
The Journey to the Cure board and committee members surprising Leanne with her scholarship at her home.
Leanne surrounded by survivors, left to right, Carol Samia, Ruth Goodpasture, Cindy Koeller, Pam Miltner
The Journey to the Cure team with their new friends Leanne and Cindy.
