By BECKY HAND
Community editor

According to the Mayo clinic Web site, “Hodgkin’s disease — also known as Hodgkin’s lymphoma — is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of your immune system.
“In Hodgkin’s disease, cells in the lymphatic system grow abnormally and may spread beyond the lymphatic system. As Hodgkin’s disease progresses, it compromises your body’s ability to fight infection.”
Brittney Rohrer of Columbia City, is 19 years old; too young to have to think about such things as radiation and chemotherapy, and bone marrow transplants. But she has this disease and so she must.
Lyndsey Brommer, daughter of Julie and Randy Brommer of Columbia City is only 10-years-old and she has struggles of her own. She is shy.
But when she heard of Brittney’s situation, she put off her shyness and became a girl on a mission. In essence, she stepped into the phone booth and put on a cape to crusade for her friend.
Though it was hard for her to speak to people, she prepared and made presentations to her principal, Tri-Kappa and other local businesses. She explained Brittney’s situation and asked for donations.
She developed a theme for her Relay for Life team about kites called “The sky’s the limit for cancer research.”
Her idea for the school was to allow kids and staff to donate money to allow them to wear “funky” socks to school for a day. One sock wearer brought in $50 for the privilege, because of Lyndsey’s appeal.
Brittney’s mom, Melissa Rohrer, feels that the efforts of Lyndsey should earn her a pat on the back, as well as all of the others who have given cards and money in support of Brittney.
Hopefully, the money raised which will be added to all the other monies brought in this weekend at Relay For Life will help to find a cure for Hodgkins and other cancers and 19 year olds will be able to focus once again on such things as boys, what to wear, and what college to go to.
If you would like to be a part of the “Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back” Relay for Life this year, come to Indian Springs middle school anytime between 9 a.m. on Saturday morning and 9 a.m. on Sunday morning. A full schedule of this weekend’s events is found on page two.