Finding strength for Laurie

While they may not know her by name, most Green River residents will recognize Laurie Macioszek.

For years, Macioszek worked at the city’s lone grocery store as a checker.

What they may not know is that behind her smiling face, was someone who has spent the last 10 years in a heroic battle against cervical cancer.

This weekend, Green River residents will be able to help her battle at the Strength for Laurie Cervical Cancer 5K Walk/Run.

The event will take place Sept. 6 starting at 9 a.m. at Expedition Island.

Macioszek said the proceeds from the walk/run will go to help her travel expenses to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, as well as other outstanding medical bills.

When she found out her friends were going to help her by doing the fundraiser, Macioszek said she was totally amazed by the support of local residents.

“The community and people of Green River have been amazing. They have done several fundraisers and have pulled together for me. Green River is a wonderful community,” she said.

With the event just days away, she said the response has been good, but that participants could still register at 7:30 a.m. at the island.

At a checkup 10 years ago, she was diagnosed with cervical dysplasia, a precancerous condition in which abnormal cell growth occurs on the surface lining of the cervix.

She said three months later they found her to have adenocarcinoma, also known as stage two cervical cancer.

After her diagnosis, Macioszek said she had undergone several months of radiation treatments, chemotherapy, a complete hysterectomy, and major surgery on her bladder. That was the first of four surgeries over the past 10 years.

After one of those surgeries in 2007, her cancer went into remission, but it returned in 2011 and she once again had to do chemotherapy in Rock Springs.

“It has been very hard and I’m very sick,” she said.

Last month she said they stopped chemotherapy and later she will once again fly to Houston, where they will come up with a game plan and doctors will find out what they are going to do.

She said the chemotherapy is responding, but not completely working. She said they do not want to do any more surgery in fears of the cancer spreading.

Masciozek started going to the cancer center in 2007 after being referred by a doctor in Salt Lake City.

She said her insurance is really good, but she still needs to pay for the flight, hotel and meals for five days and a rental car so the money from Saturday will really help.

When the large crowd gathers to start the walk from Expedition to FMC Park and back on the Green Belt, Masciozek will be on the starting line.

“I’m going to try and walk it and would love to be able to finish it. Part of the reason for this is to also get the word out about cervical cancer and the need to get yearly checkups,” she said.

For more information about the event call Joanna at 307-871-6336 or visit the Strength for Laurie Facebook page.