Local Hope Warrior Named ‘Woman of Courage’

Some define a woman of courage as a mother, others someone who helps their community, others a leader or teacher, others a survivor.

Cara Atkinson is all of the above.

The lifelong Ellwood City resident was recently named the recipient of the Pink Pamper’s Woman of Courage award. “Woman of Courage” is an award bestowed upon a cancer survivor who has made a huge contribution to the Western Pennsylvania Cancer Community.

Atkinson said before even attending the event where she received the award, she felt like she had already won.

I found out I was nominated by a lady who was a patient we helped.

“The nomination letter alone was so touching, and I already felt like I won,” Atkinson said. “Hearing how much it meant to her was enough for me.”

Humble Honor

Atkinson is the founder of the Club Hope Foundation as well as a cancer survivor. She said she has been humbled by this honor and her journey with cancer.

“You become humble once you realize who you are standing up on the stage with,” Atkinson said referring to the other women who were nominated and also given the “Woman of Courage” award.

All of the woman are an inspiration to Atkinson. She said one in particular was amazing.

“Everyone’s story was so unique,” she said. “I really feel like I was most fortunate one. One of the nominees was diagnosed with terminal cancer, but is living her best life to make a difference for others. Another woman suffered the loss of her mother to cancer and then later was diagnosed herself.”

Atkinson is also humbled by the support she receives from the Ellwood City community and school district.

“Thank you so much, Ellwood City,” Atkinson said. “This is for us, not just for me. The foundation could not be doing what we do without Ellwood City.”

Humble Beginnings

Club Hope started small. It was simply a club started by Atkinson at Lincoln High School. Atkinson said she was hired in the district in 2007 and following that she found out she had a cyst on her thyroid. After two biopsies showed no diseased tissue, Atkinson noticed that the cyst was larger. She said a doctor handed her a business card in case she wanted to have cosmetic surgery. For Atkinson, that just wasn’t enough. She said she had a gut feeling more was wrong, so she obtained a second opinion. Her gut was right. Half of her thyroid was stricken with cancer.

Atkinson said although her journey with cancer was a short one—she had surgery to remove the cancerous tissue and returns yearly for screenings—other friends were not so lucky. She said a friend she knew in college was going through spinal cord cancer at the same time Atkinson was battling thyroid cancer.

“She was having to travel to Boston, and her situation was so much worse than mine,” Atkinson said. “I developed survivor’s guilt.”

According to Atkinson, that guilt was one of the things that led her to want to help others … to provide hope.

“Hearing the word cancer is life changing,” she said. “And if you don’t have hope, I don’t know what you do have.”

So, she decided she was going to spread hope. She began by starting Club Hope at Lincoln High School, while backed by the Ellwood City Area School District’s administration.

“At the first meeting, the kids were lined up outside the door,” Atkinson said. “I was not surprised because cancer affects so many lives.”

The club began by sending flowers, meal gift cards, greeting cards, and gifting crafts.

They grew by attending local events like Ellwood City’s Fall Fest and fundraising whenever they could by hosting talent shows. Atkinson said the students hosted a Jumpropeathon to symbolize the fight that people have to go through when battling cancer.

“We had kids jump rope for 10 minutes straight,” she said.

It was symbolic of a cancer patient’s need to continuously fight.

Humble But Big Growth

It was realized on the 10-year anniversary of Club Hope the kids had raised $70,000 during that time.

“The kids worked really hard and raised money and awareness,” Atkinson said.

It was also at that time that Club Hope expanded to the Club Hope Foundation a 501c3 organization.

Atkinson said she was encouraged by her best friend Caroline Golmic to take the club to the next level at year five, but the thought and paperwork seemed overwhelming.

“Once I saw that we raised the $70,000 I thought I needed to take that leap of faith and couldn’t have done it without the help of Gene Dimeo, a local attorney who made it all so easy and understandable,” Atkinson said.

Now the organization has expanded to other school districts including Central Valley, Beaver Falls, Riverside, Shenango, and Mill Creek in Erie.

The foundation also works with 10 regional treatment facilities to spread hope. This is done through distributing crafts and gifts to patients as well as chemotherapy and radiation hope bags which contain items to help patients get through treatments.

“I would love to see it continue to spread to other communities and be everywhere,” Atkinson said. “Until my last breath I will be in charge of Club Hope Foundation.”

Humbled by Help

Atkinson said starting Club Hope, keeping it running at the high school, and growing it into a foundation would not have been possible without so many caring people who help, donate, and volunteer time.

She said upon her return to the elementary school in 2008—soon after starting Club Hope—she was no longer able to lead the club at the high school level, so Mike Strati took over for a year. He was fighting cancer but passed away. Then Kevin Dimeo took over as the sponsor.

“I cannot say enough about all the Dimeo family does to keep this running,” she said.

Atkinson also credited local businesses as well. She said Keith Venezie, owner of the Eric Ryan Corporation, gifted the organization with part of what was the old Color Center for a main headquarters and that his support has been vital to the success of the organization.

Club Hope Foundation is truly a family and community effort, in addition to the numerous volunteers, Atkinson’s family is heavily involved in the organization. Nick, her father, is the treasurer and Kathy, her mom, is the office manager. Her husband, Jon and sons, Jace, 8, and Cooper, 5, are always by her side delivering hope and attending events.

Atkinson said volunteers are always welcome, and there is a job for everyone. Hours and activities are flexible.

To volunteer, to donate, or if you’d like to submit the name of a cancer patient to receive a little hope, call 724-657-7672, email clubhopefoundation@gmail.com, visit their website, or visit their Facebook page.