The Village Striders are selling tee-shirts to support local families affected by cancer.
The orders keep coming for an inspirational tee-shirt Theresa Simaitis designed last month for the Village Striders’ annual fundraiser in Litchfield. The shirt appears to have struck a chord with residents eager to support JoAnne McCornick, a school nurse diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and other families coping with cancer.
The shirt features the group’s stick figure logo with a pair of golden wings and a message that says cancer cannot cripple love or conquer the spirit, among other things. The group already has sold 100 shirts. Simaitis recently ordered another 50 shirts to fill new orders.
Simaitis, a founding member of the Striders, designed the shirts shortly after McCormick’s diagnosis became public. They were sold at the group’s Oct. 17 fundraiser at the Litchfield Community Center, which raised money for Michelle Eykelhoff and Robbie Harpin of Litchfield, who have other forms of cancer.
“We wanted to do something for all of them but in the spirit of JoAnne,” Simaitis said Wednesday. On Oct. 18, Striders wore the tee-shirts to a marathon in Lowell, Mass., where McCormick and her husband, Brian, competed.
“It’s just kind of been spreading since then,” Simaitis said. The shirts are available for $15 by placing orders at the Community Center on Route 202 or calling Simaitis at 567-8418. Orders will be filled as long as long as demand continues, she said.
Abby Cowles of Bantam is in the sixth grade at Litchfield Intermediate School. She ordered a shirt to honor McCormick, her school nurse since fourth grade. McCormick is currently on leave from work.
“She was our school nurse, and I wanted to donate the money to her,” said Cowles, who is 11. “She’s been really nice.” Cowles’ friend C.J. Bellows also ordered a shirt. The shirts will be large on the girls, because they are only available in adult sizes.
“I plan to wear mine when I go to sleep, like a long tee-shirt,” Cowles said.
McCormick is currently receiving chemotherapy.
“She continues to run and be active with the Village Striders,” Simaitis said.
The Village Striders was formed in 2002 to raise money for Simaitis’ niece, Alicia Townsend of Oakville, who suffered a massive stroke. The McCormicks and Simaitis’ helped found the group. Next week, Townsend will graduate from Wright State University in Ohio.
The complete message on the tee-shirts is:
What cancer cannot do…..
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot cripple love
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot silence courage
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot conquer the spirit
--Anonymous quote
NOTE: The McCormicks have not requested funds from the tee-shirt sale. Friends say they are grateful for the community’s prayers and good wishes.
