By Liz Beddow
That was the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life slogan when my mom and I were Team Captains with Chief Master Michael Wegmann at Vision Martial Arts in North Carolina. Shortly after the relay season started, my mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
I had been taking part in the Relay since I was 12, raising money for the American Cancer Society, never realizing my family would one day be on the receiving end.
At my first team captain’s meeting after her diagnosis, I let the committee know what was going on. At 20 years old, I had to quit school and work two jobs to help pay bills. Often there was only a ride for either work or treatment. Sometimes my mom waited hours in the waiting room until someone could pick her up.
We got connected to Road to Recovery and the Hope Line. Having a volunteer transport my mom to and from treatment was a game changer. That Relay was the first year I walked as a caregiver, and her only year walking as a survivor. After six months of fighting back, she passed away.
The next year, I struggled to return. Chief Master Wegmann asked if I’d like to be a captain again. I asked for time but ultimately decided to continue. I continued because of a volunteer who had once driven my mom to a treatment. I came home from my first job exhausted, and there she was, feeding our dogs. She told me my mom was resting, offered to stay so I could nap before my second job, and promised to wake me up. When I came downstairs, a cup of tea and a sandwich were waiting. She had quietly slipped out the door.
That experience gave me hope in a very hard time. The program that allowed for that moment was funded by the work I had helped do. I wanted to make sure someone else could have that kind of support. We continued fundraising, but I felt we weren’t reaching everyone. Funds raised support Road to Recovery, the Hope Line, lodging for patients, and grants for cancer research, many right here in the Raleigh-Durham area. I personally know two survivors who went through clinical trials at Duke, funded by ACS.
In 2018, our Relay was small, and participation was low. My dad had passed away by then, so I went to my uncle for advice. He asked what I was good at. “Martial Arts,” I said. We brainstormed and landed on a Kick-A-Thon. I had never run a fundraiser like that before, but he encouraged me to reach out and ask others how they did it.
I contacted PTAs, met with the local ACS branch, and spoke with Chief Master Wegmann about trying something new. I organized our first Kick-A-Thon with a $2,000 goal and invited two nearby Vision Schools. We raised $10,000. The next year, all six Vision Martial Arts schools joined in. I reached out for sponsorships and raffle donations from local businesses. This time we raised over $30, 000. The following year, we aimed even higher. Chief Master Wegmann suggested turning it into a Master Party, inviting Master Instructors to teach specialty seminars. After training, students taken part in another round of the Kick-A-Thon.
My husband, Sr. Master Beddow, has been our MC since the first event. Each year, he gets more creative, motivating students by increasing incentives for each kick round. In 2024, with help from our students, staff, and community, we raised over $51,000 with 423 participants. The energy in that room, everyone kicking for a common goal, was electrifying.
This year, our goal is $55,000. I know we’ll make it. What started as an idea brainstormed with my uncle is now our largest Vision Give Back event of the year. This past July, at ATA’s World Championships, I was honored with the Sun Lee Service Award for my work with the Kick-A-Thon and the American Cancer Society. Receiving it in front of so many friends and family who helped build this event made it even more meaningful. I wear the medal proudly and love it when someone asks about it, because I get to share what we do.
As always, I end with a PSA: Many cancers can be caught early through prevention. Please visit Cancer.org to learn your risk factors and what screenings are recommended. You can also call the Hopeline at 800-227-2345 for support or questions about cancer-related concerns.