People Across The Tri-Cities “Stand Up To Cancer”

Because of Patsy Wilson, the halls of West Greene High School are filled with pink. The Greene County custodian is battling breast cancer and just started a new round of chemotherapy yesterday. So, her students wanted to do something special for her when she visited school today. Just about every student donned something pink.

“These kids here honey are awesome,“ Wilson said. “That’s all I can say for them. We stick together.“

The students decided to sport pink ribbons and clothes to show support for the 14-year employee. To many, she is West Greene High School.

“She means a lot to us here,“ Junior Jessie Snowden said. “She’s kind of like a mom to everybody.“

Her school is doing its part by selling pink ribbons for Wilson. So far, the school has raised about $300 that will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

However, this effort was just one way people stood up to cancer today. Already fighting for herself, Dottie Beckett also fought for others Friday morning, helping raise money in the first of two WJHL local telethons. Although Beckett found out in February that she had a malignant brain tumor, she wore a smile as she manned the phones today. On the other end of the phones, people pledged money.

“It doesn’t matter what age you are,“ Beckett said. “It affects everybody and it’s one of those things that needs to be recognized and we need to start doing something about it.“

Thanks to her efforts and viewers at home, we raised more than $4,000 for the American Cancer Society. Tonight, through a group effort, three of the major networks hope to raise even more money. At 8:00 pm, CBS, ABC, and NBC will join to simultaneously air “Stand Up To Cancer.“ It will be a commercial-free program featuring actors, singers and television anchors all coming together for the cause.

It should make quite the difference. After all, working together already made a difference for Patsy Wilson.

“Thanks for the pink, I will be back,“ Wilson told the students today as she left school.