KAPAA — Melissa Pegeder, mother of Miss Kauai Filipina Salisa Pegeder, said the walk is going to continue to grow because, until a cure for cancer is found, more people are being diagnosed with and treated for cancer. “I’m glad
KAPAA — Melissa Pegeder, mother of Miss Kauai Filipina Salisa Pegeder, said the walk is going to continue to grow because, until a cure for cancer is found, more people are being diagnosed with and treated for cancer.
“I’m glad I came,” Melissa said. “This is the first time for us, and it is such an exciting event for the community.”
Salisa was joined by Miss Shimmering Shamrock Kamalani Gandeza and Enchanting Love Kiana Gabriel in distributing roses provided by the Safeway Stores to cancer survivors Friday during the Fifth annual Mahelona Hospital Breast Cancer Walk, hosted in threatening weather on Ke Ala Hele Makalae fronting the Kapaa Neighborhood Center.
“I’m so sad,” said Josie Pablo, the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital recreation director. “The weather is not so good even if we prayed for good weather. We can’t let the residents out on days like this, so they’re going to just sit under the tents and watch the excitement.”
Jenny Yukimura was one of the survivors who took the path, along with the several hundred people from the community in observance of October being recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“She’s been a survivor longer than I’ve been here,” said Jakki Nelson, a cancer survivor. “She’s been a survivor for 50 years. I was just declared cancer-free last year.”
Patti Ornellas, the American Cancer Society officer for Kauai, said the walk was good despite coming on the heels of the walk hosted by the Kauai Committee on the Status of Women Wednesday. Ornellas told Pablo the Mahelona Hospital event took care of a lot of the people on the Eastside who could not make the midday event in Lihue.
“My grandma had cancer,” said Maria Terrell, who with son Oliver, 3, are vacationing from Washington, and joined the walk, getting a seat atop the pink lead golf cart. “My mother just finished chemo for breast cancer, so when we found out about this, we wanted to be a part of this.”
Placido Valenciano, a therapist at Mahelona Hospital, said the pink golf cart started the tradition of the walk. Valenciano, on behalf of the Valenciano ohana, was joined by Lenny Rapozo, representing Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., and of the Kauai Officials Association, in making a special contribution to ACS.
“We had a patient and a staff member who we all loved,” Valenciano said. “When they were diagnosed with cancer, we did a small thing around the hospital. Everyone said we needed to do more, and approached Josie, who brought the event into the community after the maintenance department turned the golf cart pink.”
Pablo said the event supports all of the residents, and people who are battling cancer.
“It’s not just me,” she said. “We get a lot of support, especially from our dedicated Mahelona Hospital employees, and the Mahelona Hospital Auxiliary, to make this happen.”
Other partners include the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, which provided an ample supply of refreshments; the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, Kauai Branch for its Visitor Industry Charity Walk award; Safeway Stores; Ilima Rivera; Emmsley Drake for the fire knife performance; Katherine Paleka and the Kapaa High School band; KIDS school; Ho‘ola Lahui; state Department of Health; ACS; pageant beauty queens; Wala‘au Productions; Kauai United Health Care; and Kapaa High School’s JROTC, Interact Club and National Honor Society.
“We want to thank Josie for reaching out to us,” said Nancy Borilez, the Kapaa High School Parent Community Networking Center coordinator. “I simply put out the information and the different organizations stepped forward. We wouldn’t be able to do this for the community without her reaching out.”
