By Rachel Hall, contributing writer
Cancer is no respecter of persons.
“My wife, Glenda, felt a lot of fear when first diagnosed,” said Caregiver Nickie Youngblood. “I was just there.”
The shock and fear for the Youngbloods were eventually replaced with determination to overcome the disease.
“I went with her to every doctor’s appointment,” said Nickie. “That’s all any caregiver can do – just be there.”
Glenda recalled the moment she knew it was serious was the phone call following a routine exam. She was told not to worry about calling her insurance for pre-approval. She needed to return to the office as soon as possible.
“I felt a lot of anxiety,” said Glenda.
The test results showed breast cancer. Treatment options included surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Glenda went through all three over 11 months with Nickie by her side every step of the way.
“I’m blessed with good insurance, a husband who takes care of me, people who pray for me all over the world, and with the support of family and friends,” said Glenda.
Glenda has never been the type of person to say “woe is me,” according to Nickie.
Today she is a survivor.
“I had my last treatment on a Wednesday and left on a cruise that Friday,” said Glenda. “Through the Lord’s Grace, I’m free of this and I did the other stuff just to make sure.”
Patsy Keith and her husband, Jacky, have been going to church with the Youngbloods for 40 years. For the last 17 years, the couples have attended every annual Relay for Life held in Cleveland together.
“I had breast cancer 34-and-a-half years ago,” said Patsy. “I had surgery, so I didn’t need chemotherapy or radiation.”
Battling the cancer at the time while in her 40s was no easy task. After the surgeries, Patsy was required to do months of physical therapy at her own home to restore motion and function, especially to her arm.
“I had to hang a jump rope over a door and pull it back and forth to stretch,” she said.
The Youngbloods and Keiths plan to continue being supporters each year of Relay for Life so others facing cancer can feel the same support and hope Glenda and Patsy felt on their journey.
According to Organizer Hannah Taylor, the North Liberty County Relay for Life event held at Cleveland Municipal Park on April 26 raised roughly $40,000 to be donated for cancer research.
“We are going to symbolize that cancer is not going to stop and neither are we,” said Taylor opening the walking track for supporters in attendance.
For more information about Relay for Life, follow “North Liberty County Relay for Life at Cleveland, TX” on Facebook.
Patsy and Jacky Keith have been married 61 years and participated together in the North Liberty County Relay for Life event on Friday, April 26, at Cleveland Municipal Park. 
Lions Estelle Trevathan, Glinda Plumlee, Tim Holder, Carolyn Wilmoth, Earl Wilmoth (front row pictured left to right) along with Lions Jim Plumlee, Terrie Manners, and Mike Penry (back row pictured left to right) were among the volunteers who rolled up their sleeves to serve concessions at the North Liberty County Relay for Life event on Friday, April 26. 
Choir Teacher Mitchell Hutchins, Librarian Oma Owens, Writing Teacher Ashley Beeman, and Science Teacher Paula Opp greet guests at the Cleveland Middle School booth set up with a ball toss game and candy prizes at the North Liberty County Relay for Life event on Friday, April 26.