Campfires of Hope

Bill Wardwell was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 1998. Over the next decade, he endured chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, multiple recurrences, and several personal setbacks. In this piece, Bill shares the most difficult part of his journey: the feeling of facing cancer alone. He opens up about his darkest, most challenging moments and how he eventually found strength, support, and community.

Learn more about how Epic Experience empowers cancer survivors to live beyond cancer at www.epicexperience.org

When Scott Riebel was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2021, he and his wife Vickie had no idea how much closer the cancer journey would bring them. As Scott states, “You get a full grasp for how much you love and are loved by someone when you experience something like cancer.” In this episode, Scott and Vickie share the experiences they endured both together and individually as they navigated their way through Scott’s cancer battle. Vickie's advice to caregivers: “You have to take care of yourself too. Give yourself some grace. I’m important in this too and I need to be healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally.”

Caroline Thomas is a bladder cancer survivor and a mother of two adult sons. She shares the importance of being honest and transparent with her children about her cancer and how she kept the lines of communication open. Caroline says telling her sons was very difficult because “my role as a parent is to protect my kids and there was nothing I could do to protect them from this.” Despite how terrifying it was to share her diagnosis, Caroline is grateful she did.

Kerry Glass is the founder of Memories Live, a nonprofit that creates legacy movies for individuals with life-limiting illnesses. In this episode, Kerry discusses the process and benefits of building a 45-minute video so children, grandchildren, and others have something to remember their loved one by. From her experiences working with the cancer community, Kerry has learned that “survivors have an inner strength they never knew they had.”

Ted Roggenkamp is a throat cancer survivor who embodies the meaning of thriving. After going through surgery, chemotherapy, and 33 rounds of radiation, Ted could have let cancer take the joy out of life. Instead, he made the decision to show up with others by being ultra-positive, energetic, social, and present in the moment. Despite the darkness of cancer, Ted found the light by bringing his full self and “being a source of positivity for others.” 

Cindy “Smokey” Polinsky and Leonard “Fox” Geraci share a unique bond as lymphoma survivors who have gone through the same cancer treatment. In the world of cancer, “fear of the unknown and what’s to come’ can significantly impact survivors in their daily lives. In this episode of Keepin’ It Real, Smokey and Fox open up about fear and how past traumas can play a role.

Janna Jones was diagnosed with IIB melanoma in 2022. She completed immunotherapy and surgery but still found herself struggling in some aspects of her daily life. She battled fatigue, photosensitivity to the sun, and constant stomach aches. Despite having a great support system, Janna found it tough to connect on a cancer level because these individuals weren’t survivors, which made her feel alone.

“I knew I needed help, so I had to go out and get it,” Janna says. She shares how she discovered incredible groups, classes, and communities to rebuild her physical and mental strength after cancer.

Lisa Isom was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2010 and had her first recurrence a year later. After eight years with no evidence of disease, her cancer returned again in 2019. On this episode of Campfires of Hope, Lisa shares a heartfelt, personal letter that she wrote titled, Dear Cancer, wherein she describes her cancer journey and the effects it’s had on her life.

Cam Kiosoglous, a four-time U.S. Olympic rowing coach, is no stranger to embracing challenges. However, when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2010, followed by two thyroid cancer diagnoses the year after, his resolve was truly tested. After making it through and having no evidence of disease for nearly a decade, Cam faced his toughest challenge – learning his cancer had returned.

Cam keeps it real with us as he opens up about the hardest aspects of coping with a cancer recurrence and how he used techniques from his coaching experiences and support from his community to manage his mental health during the most difficult times.

Epic Experience director Colin Ferro was a special guest on Travel...Adventure...Wellness on WTBQ Radio to discuss how travel and adventure can benefit cancer patients/survivors physically and emotionally.  

Learn more about how Epic Experience empowers cancer survivors to live beyond cancer at www.epicexperience.org