My Story and My Passion – Why I’m Heading to Washington, DC Again!

Editor’s note: The death of her brother caused the life of Cheryl Cowles to go in a new direction with a powerful desire to help others. After over 25 years of teaching, she decided to retire and focus on issues related to colon and rectal cancer. She is involved with the American Cancer Society, speaks to groups about early detection, and designed bracelets to generate funds for C3 and cancer research. Next month Cheryl will travel to Washington, DC to be her brother’s voice as a part of Call-On Congress.

My brother Christopher lost his battle with colorectal cancer March 21, 2005. My life changed dramatically that day and will never be the same. Losing someone you love to cancer is not something you can easily put into words. Our family experienced a pain and emptiness that will never be filled again.

Yet in the loss, something else happened for me personally. I wanted his suffering to be for gain, not for pain. After a year had passed, I realized I could honor his life by telling his story and helping others. I also began to understand the bigger picture. I started to search for ways to get involved in the cancer community.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) seemed like a logical place to start. I was able to get involved in several ways i.e. the ACS’s signature event Relay For Life and also I got involved with their advocacy program. Even though I was involved it was not enough as I had a strong need to do something specific for colon cancer so I was glad I finally came across C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition.

At first I was overwhelmed with the message to Congress that C3 was sending. I hadn’t ever considered the political arena that surrounds health care issues. It was all foreign to me and I didn’t think it was something I could understand let alone get involved in. After all I had no political abilities, or so I thought.

A year passed and I happened to e-mail Nancy Roach, C3 President, asking if she knew of anyone in Colorado that I could hook up with to get an event going in March for colon cancer. Her response to me was “How would you like to go to DC with us for C3 and OVAC [One Voice Against Cancer] advocacy training for Lobby Day?”

What seemed impossible a year before was now in my reach mainly because I was in a whole new place and had grown enough through other cancer-related experienced. I learned a spiritual lesson on the way: God’s timing is everything. Instead of being frightened, I knew immediately that I was going. I was so excited I told everyone I knew. What made such an impression on me was here was this person, Nancy, who didn’t know anything about me except that I was passionate about doing something positive for colon cancer and she had faith in me that I didn’t have in myself.

Needless to say the experience was amazing. I learned so much from the training and other advocates like Dusty Weaver, C3 Grassroots Coordinator, Jim Wetekam, C3 Policy Director, and Judi Sohn, C3 Operations and Communications Director. I remember being very nervous about actually going to our appointments. Dusty said, “You have a story and you have the passion it takes to get your message across. You go for it. You can do it.”

I told my story but I didn’t understand at that point the importance. I hadn’t had time to digest all that I had learned; all I knew was that I was part of something big and very important. I also was aware of the need to keep up the work at home in terms of visiting our Congressmen on our home turf. I learned one individual can make a difference.

In September I was asked to go back to DC with the ACS to attend Celebration On The Hill, largely because of my training with C3 and OVAC. The experience was once again mind-boggling as I witnessed first hand the power we have as constituents. When I told my story this time I was more comfortable doing so. I realized what I had was enough and that my story was compelling and, most importantly, heartfelt. No longer was I just repeating words I was told to say at the training but what I was saying was a part of me now.

I’m hooked on advocacy and excited to see how far C3 will go with people who simply tell their stories with passion and commitment — being heard and making a difference. I’ll continue to tell my story and it is more than enough!