Ovarian Cancer Survivor to Ride Horse in Relay for Life
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Warsaw resident and ovarian cancer survivor Jennifer Patterson will ride her horse in Kosciusko County Relay for Life this month. The theme for this year’s relay is “There’s No Place Like Hope.” Kosciusko County Relay For Life is May 18 and 19 from 3 p.m. to 9 a.m. at Kosciusko County Fairgrounds. Patterson, 29, is the daughter of Jerry and Kathy Patterson. She is a 2001 Warsaw Community High School graduate, and currently is a sophomore at Ivy Tech Community College studying human resources management. Patterson’s boyfriend, Shawn Williams, is the co-captain, along with their friend, Natasha Brown, for the horse portion of the race. Their friends, Amanda Engel, Jim Stroup, Beth Hockmeyer, and Rayne Craig also will ride horses in the race. The equestrian portion that Patterson is in charge of will be held on the track where concerts are held. This is the first year for the equestrian portion of the relay. The horses and riders will be riding either by mile or by hour, whichever they decide and pledge. There are 12 horses that currently will participate in the relay, and people who have their own horses and want to ride during the relay can. Patterson’s team is called Equestrians Cantering for Cancer. She has been riding horses since she was five, and her parents purchased the horse she has owned for the past 18 years when she was in eighth grade. She named her female horse, now 20 years old, “Finely To A Te,” Te being its father’s name. She plans to decorate her horse with purple glitter and ribbons, and spray paint the horse’s hooves purple for this year’s Relay for Life. Her parents purchased the horse from an Albion owner. “I always begged for a horse of my own and my parents told me I needed to learn responsibility to take care of a horse,” Patterson said. Patterson said besides her boyfriend, parents, friends and family, her horse helped her get through her battle with ovarian cancer and provided comfort. “My horse is so strong and big and for her to know I was hurting and that she was there for me I felt like I could get through anything,” Patterson said. She had the start of ovarian cancer her junior year in high school when her ovaries hurt, and she had cysts on her ovaries that were removed. After she graduated high school she went to Warsaw Women’s Center, and that was when doctors discovered she had pre-cancerous cells on her ovaries. She received low doses of chemotherapy injections and steroids. She was in remission from 2009 to 2011. Pain in her ovaries returned and doctors saw she had grapefruit-sized cysts on her ovaries that had to be removed. Two to three weeks later she went to a fertility specialist who advised her to undergo a hysterectomy at age 28. She has been cancer-free for the past two years. Patterson said her horse provided comfort during her battle with cancer. “There were so many times I wanted to give up, but my horse, my dogs, boyfriend, and family kept me strong,” Patterson said. “Everybody has always said that she and I are alike and we know when there is something wrong with one another, even when I had cancer.” Patterson said she and her horse have always had a close-knit relationship. “She knows how to push my buttons and I know how to push hers, and with everything I have been through she has always been there for me,” Patterson said. Williams’ life also has been touched by cancer. His brother, Brent Williams, and their father, Lavon Williams, both passed away due to cancer. “It’s amazing to be able to participate in the relay for life with her and her horse,” Williams said. There will be a horse and rider costume contest with prizes awarded during the relay. People who want to ride their horse during the relay can contact Patterson at 574-453-1352. On May 18 there will be a Motorcycle Ride for the Cure Poker Run. Registration is from 1:30 to 3 p.m. with the ride kicking off at 3:15 p.m. The cost is $15 per rider and $5 per passenger. There will be T-shirts for the first 50 who register. After the ride food will be provided for all registered riders. There will be door prizes and live entertainment along with other activities. For more information about Relay for Life visit www.relayforlife.org/kosciuskocountyin
