A nurse for 15 years, Maria Kratz has spent the last six helping people deal with and battle cancer on a daily basis.
"You do lose some to the disease. Sometimes, you know them for years. You still have sadness even though you know they're in a better place. Some of us nurses do go to their funerals and wakes. And some of us have our own personal experience with cancer," Kratz said.
And there are many cancer survivors who overcome their fear, survive the disease and are a source of inspiration.
An oncology nurse at the Frank M. & Dorothea Henry Cancer Center at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Kratz and other Geisinger staff will join cancer patients and survivors, their family and friends and the public in the second annual Kayak to Conquer Cancer on Sunday.
"The word cancer is devastating. When you first learn you have it, you're in a state of shock for a while, dealing with all the emotions. But cancer patients are unique. You learn a lot about being strong-willed," said Kratz, who has been working at the Cancer Center at Geisinger for the past four years.
Working with these patients every day and having lost her father-in-law to the disease provides motivation to participate in fundraisers and other events that support cancer education and research, and celebrate cancer survivors. So does seeing the results of cancer research.
"Treatment has changed a lot in the past 15 years. It's a lot more ambulatory and medications are a lot more advanced," she said.
That's why Kratz believes it's important to participate in fundraisers such as the kayak event on Sunday, when participants will paddle down the Susquehanna River from Wyoming to the Breslau section of Hanover Township to raise awareness of and benefit the cancer center.
Proceeds will fund educational programs, celebrations for survivors and research, which includes clinical trials offered to patients there, said Geisinger spokeswoman Amy Lingobardo.
The public is welcome to participate. Folks with their own kayak or canoe can register for $25; kayak rental costs another $25. The several-hour trip includes lunch from Subway and round-trip transportation.
This year, Kratz's husband, Frank, organized the event. He owns Susquehanna River Adventures and is providing the kayaks and transportation.
"I have a close friend at work who was stricken with cancer. She just completed her therapy. It drew quite a lot of attention to what Maria does as an oncology nurse. And when I heard that Geisinger had a Kayak to Conquer Cancer, I was hoping they would use my company as the outfitter," Frank Kratz said.
IF YOU GO
What: Second annual Kayak to Conquer Cancer
When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday
Where: Meet at Nesbitt Park, off First Avenue in Kingston; round-trip transportation and lunch will be provided.
Cost: $25 to register a personal kayak or canoe; or rent a kayak for $50 with registration included.
Reserve a ride: To reserve a kayak or canoe, go to www.susqpaddle.org or call 570-808-6153. To see more of The Times Leader, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.timesleader.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2009, The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.