| Kate Kornetzke, currently 6 years old, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) at the age of three. She endured two years and three months of treatments and multiple surgeries before she was declared "cancer free." "She remembers being tired and throwing up a lot. She remembers her feeding tube and said it always tickled," said Stacy Kornetzke, sharing her daughter's recollection of chemotherapy treatment. Kate was her mom's biggest supporter when Stacy accepted the nomination to participate in the 2015 Man & Woman of the Year campaign, a 10-week fundraising competition held among leaders in communities throughout Wisconsin. This past spring, 18 ambitious individuals, including Stacy, participated in this unique fundraising campaign and collectively raised just shy of $600,000 in support for the programs of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. |
Stacy confirms her daughter Kate was her inspiration throughout the campaign. "She fought so bravely every single day. Just looking at her and seeing her so full of life is inspiring enough to give back," Stacy said. Stacy acknowledges that Kate's treatment was a very difficult and emotional experience for the entire family. Stacy kept a Caring Bridge journal to share with family and friends throughout the process. "When Kate was diagnosed with ALL we received so much support from the hospital staff, family and our community. We could not have done it alone. It was a long and emotional journey and it was helpful to know we had so many people behind us. The Man & Woman of the Year campaign allowed me to help others that may someday experience what we went through and hopefully improve treatments, or even find a cure!"
Kate was able to help Stacy with her campaign by attending some of the many events she hosted to raise money and increase community awareness of the positive impact that LLS has on cancer patients, their friends and families. Kate added her own personal touch to her mom's campaign by decorating a homemade donation jar and helping her wrap and sell cookies for the bake sale. Kate said she "loved to take people's donations and hand them a cookie." With the help of family, friends, coworkers and her impressive campaign team, Stacy collected over $50,000 and was able to choose a specific research portfolio to support Kate's name. In honor of her daughter she chose an ALL portfolio, which includes a series of grants to talented young scientists and clinicians deemed most likely to make important advances.
Thanks to the hard work of Stacy Kornetke and the 17 other impressive candidates in the 2015 Man & Woman of the Year Campaign, other little girls just like Kate will have many opportunities to help their moms bake cookies for years to come.
Kate was able to help Stacy with her campaign by attending some of the many events she hosted to raise money and increase community awareness of the positive impact that LLS has on cancer patients, their friends and families. Kate added her own personal touch to her mom's campaign by decorating a homemade donation jar and helping her wrap and sell cookies for the bake sale. Kate said she "loved to take people's donations and hand them a cookie." With the help of family, friends, coworkers and her impressive campaign team, Stacy collected over $50,000 and was able to choose a specific research portfolio to support Kate's name. In honor of her daughter she chose an ALL portfolio, which includes a series of grants to talented young scientists and clinicians deemed most likely to make important advances.
Thanks to the hard work of Stacy Kornetke and the 17 other impressive candidates in the 2015 Man & Woman of the Year Campaign, other little girls just like Kate will have many opportunities to help their moms bake cookies for years to come.