A LIVESTRONG Leader Story: Leesa Gable
by Nadia Zakariya (LIVESTRONG Staff)2 Comments
Through the LIVESTRONG Leader program, we engage individuals across the globe who are passionate about and committed to making cancer a priority in their own community. LIVESTRONG Leaders are vital to the success of LIVESTRONG by helping raise awareness, recruit and engage others in the LIVESTRONG movement, fundraise and advocate to their elected officials at the local, national and global level. Below is an interview from LIVESTRONG Leader Leesa Gable from Olathe, Kansas.
What does LIVESTRONG mean to you?
To me, LIVESTRONG means hope and strength. Hope for another birthday, hope for a cure!! Strength to get up each morning and give the day my best?because if I?m breathing, I?m able!! If I?m in need of motivation, I just have to look at my wrist and remember to live strong!! I wear the yellow wristband not only as an outward showing of my support, but also as a reminder that I?m not alone in my fight against leukemia.
Why are you a leader?
I?m a Leader because I want to give back to my community. I want to be a source of inspiration for someone who has been touched by cancer?either directly or indirectly?to let them know that they are not alone and help is just a phone call or email away. I enjoy being able to share my personal story of how I turned a negative like cancer into a positive in my life. Also, I love that I?m involved with an organization that goes beyond my city?my state?that literally has world-wide reach and carries such a strong and powerful message?.that even with cancer, you can!
What are you doing in your community?
I returned from One Voice Against Cancer Lobby Day in Washington, DC, with even more passion and sense of purpose. I made it back from vacation just in time to help out at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park?s opening day. I?m working with another Leader, Michael Johnson, helping the YMCA of KC create a family-friendly biking event that will be a benefit for both LIVESTRONG and the Y, which will help sustain the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program. I?m also gearing up for KC?s annual Tour de BBQ, a LIVESTRONG Day event. Basically, just doing all I can to spread the LIVESTRONG message.
Leesa Gable
LIVESTRONG Leader, Olathe, Kansas
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