Tehachapi Cancer Foundation Inspired by Love – Driven by Compassion

Is the rate of cancer diagnosed for Tehachapi residents truly increasing as some believe, or is social media just making us more aware of this insidious disease within our midst? Whatever the correct answer may be, our community is realizing that Tehachapi is at a distinct disadvantage because of our location. Any kind of chemotherapy treatment is at least a 90 mile round trip trek, either "down" the mountain to Bakersfield or over to Lancaster/Palmdale.

Diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer on October 1, 2012, Tammy Wallace fought the good fight until September 1 of this year when cancer won the final bout.

It was during their trip "down the cancer road" that Tammy and Jim Wallace quickly became aware of the disadvantage they faced living in a small mountain community with Tammy's treatment making the trip necessary five days a week for five weeks to Bakersfield. "Thank goodness I'm retired and could be Tammy's 'sharegiver' during her illness," Jim shared.

"Right now, there simply are no such services any closer," explained Jim. "Tammy and I realized first hand that we did not fully understand the impact cancer and chemotherapy has on someone's life. We quickly discovered there is a real gap in resources, education, financial assistance and other needs."

Of course, Tammy, being the loving, compassionate and driven person she was, decided they had to do something about the situation and began planning the Tehachapi CANCER FOUNDATION (TCF) in January of 2013. "We received our 501(c)3 status on Tammy's birthday, March 18, this year. We used our own money to get started and actually got all the paperwork through on the first attempt," Jim said, smiling.

"We believe there is a real need to provide assistance to the people in our town of Tehachapi," Jim explained further. "Through the foundation we hope to be able to provide gas money, nanny services, house-cleaning services and even food services. We discovered that hats and gloves are needed to help off-set the neuropathy that commonly is associated with chemotherapy. These are things that you don't even think about until you find out from personal experience."

The various types of cancer each seem to have resources for that particular type of cancer, Tammy and Jim discovered while finding out that there isn't really a "one-size-fits-all" source that provides this type of information to help with all types of cancer.

"We hope to remedy that once our website gets up and running," he said. "While there are specifics applicable to each type of cancer, some of the resources may overlap and be helpful to everyone."

Tammy was involved with Tehachapi's Relay for Life for nine of the 11 years the Relay has been active here. "A friend's mom had cancer and Tammy became involved with the organization and eventually took over the team after the friend's mom passed. Tammy's various teams have raised over $100,000 over the years."

"Tammy's cancer was aggressive," Jim explained. "She had had a colonoscopy just 16 months prior and it was totally clear. Then, out of the blue, she had stage IV colon cancer. Tammy always said that you are the only one who knows your own body and when something isn't right, you have to follow through – you have to be your own advocate, you have to do your own research, you have to push forward yourself. It was her third doctor that finally discovered what the problem was. Then we found out that there is no support for colon cancer within our community and that the American Cancer Society who used to offer a fuel reimbursement program in some cases wasn't doing that any more. So we were pretty much on our own."

The TCF plans to set up a support group for all types of cancer, both via their website and personal meetings, and they already are providing some gas cards for those needing to make the trek for radiation and/or chemo treatments.

"We've had people donate money for gas cards, Starbucks cards and even juicers," Jim shared. "Dahlia's clothing store here in Tehachapi donated a bunch of scarves, hats and gloves and one of our local realtors donates a $50 gas card every time he closes an escrow."

Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) is a very common side-effect of chemo. Jim added, "Because of that, the hats, scarves and gloves were a real blessing." CIPN is a close cousin to the neuropathy experienced by diabetics. "It's just one of the nasty side effects of the chemo."

If you check out the National Cancer Institute's website, you'll find that CIPN is one of the most common reasons that cancer patients stop their treatment early. For some, CIPN's symptoms can be lessened by lowering the dose of chemotherapy or temporarily stopping it, which often diminishes the pain within a few weeks. But, for other patients, the symptoms last beyond their chemotherapy for months, years or even indefinitely. According to Dr. Ann O'Mara, head of National Cancer Institute's Palliative Care Program in the Division of Cancer Prevention, "We can't predict who will come down with it or to what degree they will get it."

The question many of us ask ourselves is how, with all the money being spent on research, can they not come up with a cure? Jim believes that "there is no profit in a cure" and, with that in mind, the TCF is adopting a

1% - 99% ratio in their operations: "One percent set aside for administrative costs such as printing, flyers, postage etc. and 99% going back to Tehachapi folks in need."

One of Tehachapi CANCER FOUNDATION's goals is to have four fundraisers per year and with that in mind they are planning on having a fundraiser in November. "We are working on those plans as we speak and will have more information available shortly," said Jim. "Right now we are blessed with some private donations so we can keep moving forward."

The TCF's Board of Directors is made up of all volunteers. "Tammy is president and I'm on the board along with Ida Perkins, Laurin Bierman, Stephanie Soqui and Kimberly Doersam," said Jim.

The Tehachapi community can help by getting the word out about the TCF and the services available. "Once our website is up and running that too will provide not only lots of resources, but a way to help our community."

You may have seen the TCF's information booth at the Mountain Festival. They are partnering with Go Green Bunny Healthy Lifestlye Shop, a Tehachapi business located on South Street, for upcoming events. The foundation will have an information booth at the GranFondo bicycle race on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014. The Tehachapi CANCER FOUNDATION also has a "wish list" on http://www.amazon.com and soon will be listed on http://www.guidestar.com, so you can visit those sites and contribute items from their lists if you prefer. As mentioned above, the TCF is a 501(c)3 organization, so your donations are tax deductible.

Your donations can be sent to the Tehachapi CANCER FOUNDATION Inc., PO Box 766, Tehachapi CA 93581 or taken directly to Union Bank here in Tehachapi. If you have questions, you also can call (844) 644-8644. Volunteers are always welcome!

There will be a Celebration of Life for Tammy Wallace at Dorner's Vineyard in Stallion Springs, Tehachapi on Sept. 27 from 1-6pm, and Tammy's family is requesting that in lieu of flowers you help keep Tammy's dream alive by donating to the TCF.

"Flowers wither and die, but dreams live forever."