Reminders to enjoy life, health, friends and family come in all forms. They can often snap you out of a funk, or make you realize your bad day isn’t really that bad. The text of Willa Fischer’s eulogy is one of those reminders.
Willa’s parents, Stacy and Henry, say her sweet smile did not disappear until the last few days of her life, and her paralyzed vocal cord made for a high-pitched, dreamy voice.
Willa lost her battle with cancer on June 25, 2008, a couple weeks shy of her 4th birthday.
Willa’s Wheels
Stacy and Henry started a Web site and an organization dedicated to her memory, Willa’s Wheels, that helps support The Raymond Wentz Foundation, which aims to ease the daily financial and emotional struggles experienced by cancer patients lacking financial resources.
One of the events that the two foundations are involved in is this Saturday’s Leadville Trail 100, a 100-mile mountain bike ride that starts and finishes in Leadville with an elevation gain of approximately 14,000 feet on the ride. About 65 percent of riders are expected to finish under the 12-hour time limit.
Henry Fischer will lead a team of 11 riders racing in Willa’s memory and raising money for the Raymond Wentz Foundation. Stacy is not able to join the team this year – she is pregnant.
“We love running, biking and pushing ourselves to the limit,” said Henry. “We couldn’t think of a better way to use that and turn it into a cause.”
Anybody is welcome to join the team for future rides and participate in events. Henry says they plan on expanding it as much as possible in the future – the more rides and racers, the better.
Coping
The Fischers found an outlet for some of their grief in Willa’s Wheels, and discovered a way to help people without much money going through cancer treatment.
Stacy says that the economic recession has led to a huge increase in applications for help. The organization was used to about 30 applications coming in each month. That number has become 50 as people are struggling to get by.
“It is just so important having family and friends for support, and not everybody is that fortunate,” said Henry. “Life grinds to a halt, and the world becomes very small when you’re battling cancer. Having people around that can get you through is the key.”
More information
If you are interested in getting involved, visit willaswheels.org and raymondwentz.org.
