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Judy Slone, Kosciusko Community Hospital, was one of the 1,000 walkers who participated in the "Light the Night Walk" Sept. 21 and has been named Indiana Woman of The Year.
The fifth annual "Light the Night Walk" was held in Winona Lake to raise funds for cancer research for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
The society is the organization that also named Slone Indiana Woman of The Year for her fundraising efforts for cancer research. Slone serves as division director of quality information systems and education at KCH.
She attended the "Light the Night Walk" and ceremony for her first time with her daughter, Melanie.
"It was a moving ceremony and it was nice to see all of the walkers come together for a good cause," Slone said.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society held its annual Man and Woman of the Year Awards Banquet April 22 at the Fort Wayne Country Club, where Slone was recognized as Indiana Woman of the Year. The event recognizes a man and woman in Indiana who raise funds for cancer research.
Slone ran against eight other women from hospitals in Fort Wayne, who also raised funds. She was recognized for her fundraising efforts for raising more than $7,000 for cancer research.
"These funds are going toward a worthy cause where cancer research will make a difference in people's lives," Slone said.
Slone, a board member of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, was encouraged by the board to run for Woman of the Year in February.
"I decided to run for the Woman of the Year because I have a personal tie to lymphatic cancers," Slone said.
Her son, Jason Slone, was diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin's lymphoma three years ago. He underwent a year of chemotherapy and has been cancer free for the last two years.
Her brother-in-law, Leroy Kirk, was diagnosed more than 16 years ago with stage four Hodgkin's Lymphoma and died from complications.
She sent out 225 letters to co-workers, family members and local businesses requesting donations and informing them of her personal story and why she was running for woman of the year.
"It was interesting to learn stories about others who have experienced cancer in their families," Slone said.
Slone was awarded with flowers, a crown and a clock with the words "Woman of The Year" engraved on the clock.
