Dedications
Breast cancer has affected the lives of many of our team members. Some have survived it themselves, some have had family who survived. Unfortunately, others have family members who were lost to this disease. These dedications are just a few of the stories that inspire our team members every day.
Sharon L. Bassett
Sharon L. Bassett was a resident of the Indianapolis area for the balance of her adult life. Sharon battled breast cancer for 9 years. The community lost her in June of 2006.
Sharon was the kind of person who never thought of herself first, and her experience with breast cancer was no exception. Rather than focus on her own needs, she realized that there were other people with breast cancer who did not have the support of family and friends, nor the financial resources to meet their basic needs.
In October 2002, Bassett and her family established the Sharon L. Bassett Fund, to help families in Indiana and Illinois dealing with breast cancer. Sharon’s vision was to provide “a hand to hold onto” for people dealing with breast cancer and their families, particularly things not covered by insurance.
In September of 2005, the Indiana Alliance for Women’s Health honored her as a woman making a difference. Her original home area of Danville Illinois named a day in her honor. In March of 2006, she was named as one of the Yoplait Champions at an event in NYC honoring people making a difference in the fight against breast cancer.
To date, Sharon and her friends and family have raised over $400,000 to help families in the community dealing with breast cancer. Hundreds of women and men, along with their families, have been helped by Sharon’s generosity.
She was a remarkable woman, and breast cancer seemed to magnify all of her best qualities. Sharon is survived by Dennis L. Bassett, and they have one son.
Patricia Heiden Burcham
Pat had a dynamic personality and an indescribable laugh! She was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at age 38 just a short time after her wedding. Pat fought hard for 3 years. She never gave up and constantly showed everyone that she met her loving and kind spirit. No matter how tough her days were on this earth at the end her faith in God, Jesus and heaven never wavered.
I dedicate my participation in the Indy SurviveOars to Pat. I believe that if she were here today that she would be part of this team. - Lisa Heiden Peters
Jeanette Burell Patterson "Nana"
Growing up, my father’s mother would come over every Sunday to have a family dinner. She was a widow and my Father was an only child so to extend the family dinners was expected and no big deal. When I was very young all I knew about my “Nana” was that she ALWAYS dressed up and she smoked.But then again back in the ‘70’s everyone did. She wasn’t very hands on, but she was loving and kind.
I remember a time when I was around 10 and staying over at her house when noticed her put something in her bra…It was a prosthetic breast. That day I realized that she was a much stronger woman than I had ever realized.
Jeanette Patterson was one of the first women in this country to undergo a radical mastectomy. Her surgery took place around 1942 when my father was just a young boy. He remembers riding his bicycle to the hospital after school to visit her. The nuns at the hospital would help him with his homework as he kept vigil by her side. What is now a 24 hour out patient hospital visit, was then an experimental radical procedure and required months in the hospital.
I dedicate my participation with Indy SurviveOars to my Nana. She was a strong pioneer who made a difference. I dream of a day when the breast cancer gene will be eliminated and women can live life without fear of contracting this horrible disease.
Jan Schroeder
Jan fought two valiant battles against breast cancer. She stayed on this earth far longer than any of her IU doctors ever dreamed she would.
She never complained....she always had a smile on her face even in her last days. She loved her family and her friends. She was the most beautiful woman both inside and outside. She always worried about everyone else and never herself. She traveled the world with her husband and grandchildren when she knew her time was limited. She was so sick but wanted to make lasting memories for them. She did it with grace. Far more grace than I will ever know.
Jan, Basia Gentry and I had many good times together. Basia is helping the Indy SurviveOars get started. Basia is a personal trainer and will dry land train the Indy SurviveOars. Jan firmly believed exercise and good eating were the keys to staying healthy. Jan always exercised and had Basia come to the house to work her failing body out until the bitter end. I can just hear Jan in heaven stomping her feet saying "go girls go!!" She would have been the first survivor in the dragon boat had she been here today.
She lost her battle on October 16, 2006. She left behind many grieving family members and friends. We miss you Jan...this world is just not the same without you.
Please visit Jan's memorial page: www.janschroeder.us
Jan's loving husband Mike Schroeder put this web page together. Go visit Jan and see the love this amazing woman left behind. I am dedicating my participation in The Indy SurviveOars to my dear friend, Jan Schroeder. - Kathy Harrison
