2014 RACE FOR THE CURE
In Memory Of Honoree Linda “LuLu” Key
‘On an appointment with God’
You don’t see it at first when you walk in the Wendt Key Realty Team office in Fremont. But after a more thorough review, you discover the shrine to Linda “LuLu” Key, where photos, and mementos help clients and visitors feel her presence and spirit.
“She’s with us everyday,” said Cheryl Wendt, Key’s friend and business partner, who nominated LuLu as this year’s Race Honoree. The two first met at Jack Bradley Realty in 1990. In 2001, they both left the company and formed their own firm: Wendt Key Team Realty. Key was a lover of life; a talented artist who loved to sketch, and committed to her Dalmatians.
Wendt was by Key’s side during her multiple battles with cancer—in 1993 and again in 2008, Key was diagnosed with breast cancer. “She would tell people, ‘I’m not sick, I just have cancer’,” said Wendt. “She lived each day to the fullest.”
In 2010, Key was diagnosed with numerous cancers, including liver, bone and brain. But that did not stop her from working hard, right up to the Wendt Key Team Realty’s ten-year anniversary.
During her last few months, Key’s kind, caring and fun personality remained. She did a photoshoot that showed different facets of her personality, including different hats, a photo of Key with a wig and one of herself without any props or makeup—her true image. She gave out a postcard of the photos with the message “Life is Good, Linda” on the back to remind loved ones to enjoy life and smile.
Surrounded by coworkers, friends, family and loved ones, Linda Key passed away on March 18, 2011. Key’s legacy, developed while she was alive, was to give back. Despite growing up with financial challenges, when Key came into some money, she always donated back to the community. Her favorite charity, the United Way of Sandusky County Cancer Fund, helps cancer patients with financial assistance for everyday needs when their medical bills become overwhelming. Today, the fundraising continues.
Since 2008, “Team LuLu” has participated in Race for the Cure. Recently, at the team’s second annual Pink Day at the Bay (Put-In-Bay), Team LuLu enthusiastically raised $6500.
This year’s fifth annual Lunch for LuLu is a celebration of her life, and will be held Friday, September 26 from 11am to 2pm at the Wendt Key Team Realty, 1403 W. State St., Fremont. Everyone is welcomed to stop by or drive through for lunch. The hot dogs and chips are free, but donations are welcome.
RACE FOR THE CURE
In Celebration Of Honoree Denise McCroskey
‘An unbreakable spirit’
As a lifelong journaler, Denise McCroskey always found comfort and understanding by writing about life’s problems in her diary. So it is no surprise that shortly after she was diagnosed with Stage 3 triple-positive breast cancer in October 2011, McCroskey started a blog. “I thought, ‘If I’m going to get through this, I’m going to have to write about it,’” said McCroskey. “So I thought, well, the modern way of writing about things is starting a blog.”
Deniseforhealth.wordpress.com documents her journey battling cancer. The blog has been very helpful for cancer patients, survivors and their families because her posts are sectioned by topic, allowing readers to retrieve the specific help they are searching for, such as clinical trials, mastectomy information and radiation. “I was so overwhelmed when I was diagnosed,” said McCroskey. “I knew that if I felt this way, everyone who has received this diagnosis felt this way. So I wanted to make it easy to read my blog and share what we were dealing with.”
McCroskey never imagined her blog would one day have thousands of local and international followers. In fact, her postings have been picked up by major publications, such as Ladies Home Journal.
Anita Conley, who nominated Denise, describes her friend as an unbreakable spirit. “Denise has handled [cancer] with as much grace as anybody ever, ever could,” said Conley. “I think the world of her . . . she’s the sister that I never had.”
After starting her blog, McCroskey quickly saw a need for cancer-related products, tailored with love, for patients. She has expanded into an e-commerce site, hellocourage.com, offering a wide range of McCroskey-tested and approved products such as colorful chemo caps and comfortable mastectomy/lumpectomy chemo port pillows.
“It was hard for me because I had no energy,” said McCroskey, describing the difficulty of going through chemotherapy and trying to find wigs and scarves to buy. “They’re certainly out there, but not in one place.” McCroskey, in remission, still champions her message promoting self breast examinations for early detection. She urges women of all ages to get yearly mammograms, after her mother was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer at age 80.
How to Register for Race Day
You do not need to be a runner to be included in the Race. Adults and youth can walk the race timed or untimed (non-competitive).
Registration fees are $30 for adults 18 and over, and $20 for youth.
You can still register by picking up a registration packet at one of the registration locations below or at the event
registration tent on the morning of the race.
Toledo Advance Registration
September 25-26
The Stranahan Theater and Great Hall,
4645 Heatherdowns Blvd. from 10am to 7pm
Saturday, September 27
The Stranahan Theater and Great Hall, 10am to 4pm
Sunday, September 28
Race Day, inside the home plate
entrance to Fifth Third Field from 7:30-9am.
Cost is $45 per person for all ages on Race Day.
Schedule of Events
Toledo Race Day, Sunday, September 28:
Local Sponsor Tents: 7am – 9:30am
Kids Area: 7am – 9:30am
Survivor Tent: 7am – 11am
Race Day Registration: 7:30 – 9am
Survivor Ribbon Photo: 8am
Survivor Parade: 8:45am
5k Race Begins: 9:30am,followed by the 5k Walk and 1 Mile Family Fun Walk
Race Results: 10:30am
Medal Distribution and Award Ceremony: 11am
Toledo Restaurants:
Dine Out for the Cure
Eat at any of these restaurants on Race Day and proceeds from your meal will benefit Komen of Northwest Ohio. You must present the flyer to your server in order for the charity to benefit. Print one at komennwohio.org/komen-race-for-thecure/dine-out-for-the-cure.html.
-The Blarney Irish Pub n Max & Erma’s (three Toledo area locations) n Bob Evans (20 Northwest Ohio locations) n The Oasis Restaurant
(Toledo, Perrysburg, BG and delivery)
-Pizza Papalis of Toledo (delivery available)
-Don Pablo’s n El Camino Restaurant (two locations)
-Frisch’s Big Boy (six area locations)
-Luckie’s Barn and Grill n Manhattan’s Restaurant
-Spaghetti Warehouse
-Star Diner (four Toledo locations)
-Ye Olde Cock n’ Bull n Ye Olde Durty Bird
Sleep In For the Cure
Can’t make it to the Race? No problem! Sleep In for the Cure is for those who are out of town, can’t make it to the Race or who are simply not “morning people.” If you fit into any of those categories, you can still participate by registering and donating to the cause—you’ll be
there in spirit.
Sleep In for the Cure participants can also Dine Out for the Cure on Race Day. So yes, you can make an impact simply by sleeping in and going out to eat. Who wouldn’t want to do that?
For more information go to komennwohio.org or call (419) 724-CURE.