SKATING TO PUT CANCER ON ICE.Byline: Heesun Wee Daily News Staff Writer A former champion figure skater in England and an active skating coach in Burbank, Heather Belbin never thought she, an athlete, would ever get cancer. But the disease doesn't discriminate, and four years ago a physician diagnosed Belbin with bladder cancer bladder cancer Malignant tumour of the bladder. The most significant risk factor associated with bladder cancer is smoking. Exposure to chemicals called arylamines, which are used in the leather, rubber, printing, and textiles industries, is another risk factor. . ``They gave me a year and a half to live,'' she said. ``I was in a daze.'' Within weeks of the devastating dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. news, Belbin underwent surgery and left the City of Hope Medical Center with a reconstructed bladder. Then came the bill - more than $150,000. But as a full-time skating coach, which means she's an independent contractor, Belbin had no health insurance to help pay the tab. Unexpectedly, the hospital, through its donations, paid the entire amount. Belbin was shocked - and grateful. While years have passed since the surgery, Belbin has not forgotten the generous gesture. For the past half year, she has been organizing a skating show to raise awareness and money for cancer treatment and research. Proceeds from Sunday's ``Skate for Hope'' will benefit the City of Hope National Medical Center City of Hope is one of 39 NCI-designated Cancer Centers and is located in the city of Duarte, California. City of Hope comprises an ambulatory and in-patient cancer treatment center as well as a biomedical research facility known as the Beckman Research Institute and the City of Hope and Beckman Research Institute The Beckman Research Institute (BRI) is a research facility affiliated with the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, CA. It is dedicated to studying normal and abnormal biological processes which may be related to cancer. . ``They (City of Hope) had given me maybe a year and a half to live. ... They saved my life,'' said Belbin, who lives in Hollywood. ``That's the reason I decided to do this.'' The fund-raiser will feature a variety of skaters including Ye Bin Mok Yebin Mok (born April 19, 1984 in Seoul, South Korea) is an American figure skater. She emigrated to the United States with her parents when she was a child. Mok had a successful career as a junior, winning medals on the Junior Grand Prix circuit and placing fifth at the 2003 , who recently won the top American ladies' title for competitors 16 and younger at the Junior Olympics. Other performers will include the national award-winning adult precision team L.A. Express and Richard Dwyer, ``America's Mr. Debonair deb·o·nair also deb·o·naire adj. 1. Suave; urbane. 2. Affable; genial. 3. Carefree and gay; jaunty. .'' The fight against cancer - particularly bladder cancer - can seem daunting daunt tr.v. daunt·ed, daunt·ing, daunts To abate the courage of; discourage. See Synonyms at dismay. [Middle English daunten, from Old French danter, from Latin . An estimated 54,400 Americans will be diagnosed with bladder cancer this year alone, according to the American Cancer Society American Cancer Society, n.pr established in 1913, this national volunteer-based health organization is committed to the elimination of cancer through prevention and treatment and to diminishing cancer suffering through advocacy, scholarship, research, in Los Angeles. One of the greatest risk factors of bladder cancer is smoking, said Timothy Wilson, one of Belbin's former physicians and director of the Department of Urologic Oncology at City of Hope. Belbin used to smoke. With no evidence of the cancer, Belbin has returned to her first love - skating. And she has this bit of advice to pass along: ``It sounds a bit trite but live each day to the fullest because you never know what's going on Verb 1. know what's going on - be well-informed be on the ball, be with it, know the score, know what's what know - know how to do or perform something; "She knows how to knit"; "Does your husband know how to cook?" tomorrow.'' THE FACTS What: ``Skate for Hope,'' a benefit for the City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute in Duarte. Where: Pickwick Ice Center, 1001 Riverside Drive, Burbank. When: 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $15 per person donation is requested. Tickets are available at the Pickwick Sports Shop or may be purchased at the door. For more information, contact Pickwick Ice Center at (818) 846-0035. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Coach Heather Belbin, a cancer survivor, has lined up skating champion Ye Bin Mok for the benefit. |
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