DATE: Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 -- 9 a.m. to noon
LOCATION: Lawrence Tech, 21000 W. 10 Mile Road, Southfield 48075
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To understand the impact Gilda's Club has on those it serves,
read the excerpt below written by By Tom Murphy Jr. -
As John Ricco once again prepares to lace up his walking shoes to raise money for Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit, he reminds himself that his journey is a positive one.
Ricco, 63, of Farmington Hills, is a 10-year cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in June 2000, three days before his 53rd birthday. About six months after his diagnosis, Ricco discovered Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit.
In 2003, he participated in his first Gilda’s Family Walk. He had a three person team of walkers who raised $300. The next year his team increased to nine walkers, raising $700.
Ricco said that the process began with members of his family joining him in the first year, and expanded to include friends the second year. In his third year, Ricco recruited from the multiple myeloma support group, which meets at Gilda’s Club once a month. The group is one of 100 support groups offered by the cancer support community in Royal Oak.
"I said, ‘For everything Gilda’s gives you, maybe you could give back something by becoming a member of the team or making a donation to the Ricco Myeloma Team." The group responded. The Ricco Myeloma Team grew from nine walkers to 33 in 2005. Their numbers grew with each passing year. In 2009, The Ricco Myeloma Team had 110 members and raised more than $10,000, money that is spent locally on the program that is available at no charge to men, women, teens and children impacted by all types of cancer. The program includes wellness and support groups, educational lectures, creative arts workshops and social activities.
“Gilda’s Club has done so much for me and my family in terms of support, information, friendships and social events,” Ricco said. “So I consider the whole effort for the walk a give-back for all that my family and I have received from being involved with Gilda’s Club.”
Ricco recalls being devastated when his doctor first told him he had cancer. “My father passed away five months after he was diagnosed with cancer so that played heavily into the trauma,” Ricco said. “There was so much I still wanted to do like walk my daughters down the aisle, travel with my wife, Jan . . . just so many things. I knew I couldn’t give up.”
Ricco was determined not to let cancer stop him. He had too much he wanted to do with his life; in fact, he says, his battle with cancer has given him a new perspective. “Cancer is a gift,” Ricco said. “Because when you have cancer, you have this opportunity to do better things with your life, to focus on the meaning of life and what you want to do with your life. And when you discover that, it’s like, wow this really a positive and a gift to have this fresh, new page to turn on to. I never would have had this view and done these things if it wasn’t for being diagnosed with cancer.”
Ricco continues to stay positive even during relapse, which he went through in 2008 and is in the process of going through again. He is convinced that a good attitude is a major factor in his survival. So much so, that he has written a book titled “The Ride of Your Life: Fighting Cancer with Attitude.” The book took him six years to complete. It is about his journey through his battle with cancer. Ricco said that his book is a tool kit for others dealing with cancer or for anybody who is going through a difficult situation.
In the book, Ricco explains how he was able to keep a positive attitude despite his disease and how he was able to turn a negative situation into a positive opportunity. “I believe it is God’s plan for me to go through this and to have written the book so that I may help others going through similar situations.”
The Gilda’s Family Walk & Health Fair is being held on Saturday, Sept.11 at Lawrence Tech University in Southfield. Ricco said that he hopes to come close to the same results the team achieved last year, but with the shape of the economy, he foresees a challenge. If we can raise $8,000, that would make me very happy,” Ricco said.
Ricco and his wife, Jan, have three grown daughters one of whom was recently married with Ricco happily walking her down the aisle.
For more information about John Ricco or to purchase his book “Ride of Your Life: Fighting Cancer with Attitude,” go to www.johnriccobooks.com. To donate to the Ricco Myeloma Team please visit www.firstgiving.com/johnricco.
“In this economy, non-profit organizations like Gilda’s Club are really squeezing,” Ricco said. “Every donation counts, no matter how small or big.”
Get Involved:
Register to participate in the walk or make a donation.
Other ways you can support Gilda's Club.
Source: Gilda's Club Metro Detroit
