{"id":1314370,"date":"2019-09-07T17:30:08","date_gmt":"2019-09-07T23:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/?p=987255"},"modified":"2019-09-07T17:30:08","modified_gmt":"2019-09-07T23:30:08","slug":"rally-the-valley-soaks-up-support-for-integrative-cancer-therapy-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/local-news\/rally-the-valley-soaks-up-support-for-integrative-cancer-therapy-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Rally the Valley soaks up support for integrative cancer therapy services"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Rally the Valley walkers dressed in bright colors and tie dye, holding colorful kites make their way around Two Rivers Park during Saturday’s annual event.<\/strong>
Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Karen Zimmerman, a radiation therapist at Valley View Hospital\u2019s Calaway Young Cancer Center, is used to the damp that often accompanies the yearly Rally the Valley fundraiser.<\/p>\n

This year, it was a good thing.<\/p>\n

Along with clear blue skies and warm temperatures, the 8th annual Rally the Valley Saturday included the first-ever<\/a> \u201cFloat for Hope\u201d raft excursion down the Colorado River to the new venue at Two Rivers Park.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s still wet. It\u2019s just not cold,\u201d Zimmerman said, as she and her daughter, Cheyenne, and mother, Carolynne Jones, soaked in the sun and warmth after taking out at the Two Rivers boat ramp along with more than three dozen other raft loads of participants.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s great. It definitely brings in a lot more people,\u201d Zimmerman said of the addition of the float along with the traditional Peyton\u2019s Parade Walk that made a couple of laps around Two Rivers Park as part of the day\u2019s festivities.<\/p>\n

The walk is named after Peyton Armstrong, who battled childhood leukemia and is now a young adult survivor.<\/p>\n

It was Jones\u2019 first time rafting. \u201cI love it. It\u2019s just been awesome,\u201d she said<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a good addition, and it\u2019s a great turnout. It seemed like everybody on the river really liked it,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n

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Rally the Valley walkers cheer on participating rafters as they make their way to Two Rivers Park during Saturday\u2019s annual event. This was the first year particpants could pick between a walk or a float down the river.<\/strong>
Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Rally the Valley raises money for the integrated therapy services \u2014 massage, acupuncture, aromatherapy, yoga classes, etc. \u2014 that are offered at no additional cost for cancer patients and their caregivers at the Calaway Young Center.<\/p>\n

Between 600-700 people took part Saturday in the event, which typically raises roughly $100,000 toward the $300,000 annual fundraising goal to provide the services, said Stacey Gavrell, executive director for the Valley View Hospital Foundation.<\/p>\n

Those services were a crucial part of the cancer journey for people like Timm Fautsko of Glenwood Springs and Janet Buck of Carbondale.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the pain I was going through and the radiation, it was nice to go in and get a massage or acupuncture on a regular basis,\u201d said Fautsko, who was diagnosed in January 2018 with stage 4 prostate cancer.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really helped to lift my spirits and ease the pain,\u201d he said. It also gave Fautsko the strength to in turn help mentor other men diagnosed with prostate cancer.<\/p>\n

Buck, who just recently lost her husband, Bob, to cancer, said the support services at the cancer center were invaluable. Not only did Bob use the services, as his primary caregiver, so did she.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was very comforting, just to have that extra support,\u201d Buck said. \u201cIt\u2019s an important part of the Calaway Center, and it\u2019s why I\u2019m here today to support them.\u201d<\/p>\n