Cancer Smackdown!

Posted by: Jennifer Wilson, Public Relations Manager | September 20, 2010

Question: What do professional wrestlers and a cancer support group have in common?

Answer: They’re planning an upcoming wrestling match to raise money for cancer patients in need.

The professional wrestling group “Champions with Attitudes” will hold a special set of matches as part of a unique fundraiser benefitting the “Losing Is Not an Option” cancer support group at Lexington Medical Center. The “Cancer Smackdown” will take place on Saturday, October 2nd at Beulah United Methodist Church, Gaston. The church is in the Sandy Run community at the intersection of Highways 31 and 176.

“Champions with Attitudes” is a wrestling group based in Orangeburg County. The group travels through the Carolinas for matches. This event will include four matches. There will also be a bake sale, door prizes and refreshments. Tickets are $4 for children under 12 and $8 for people over age 12. The matches begin at 2 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. for ticket sales and concessions.

All proceeds will benefit the “Losing Is Not an Option” cancer support group at Lexington Medical Center. The support group has approximately 40 members, men and women, from all walks of life, caretakers and patients, some terminal and some not. The group meets once per week at the hospital.

Importantly, the cancer support group raises money to help cancer patients and their families fulfill needs and wishes. In the past, “Losing Is Not an Option” members paid for a terminally ill support group member to go skydiving. In addition, the group has paid for a husband with terminal cancer to go on a special trip with his wife to North Carolina, the place where they had met and married. The group has also helped pay for expensive medicine, supplies and transportation for support group members to get to clinical trials.

The idea for the upcoming wrestling event came from Denise Mosier of Orangeburg County, the caretaker of a woman in the support group. Mosier also works for “Champions with Attitudes” selling merchandise at their events. And, she lost her mother to cancer at a young age. She wanted to do something to help the cancer patients she has come to know. When she asked the wrestlers to donate their time for this special event, they gladly agreed.

For more information about “Champions with Attitudes,” visit www.tapq.com/cwaprowrestling.
Questions about the event can be directed to Chris Gibson, leader of the “Losing Is Not an Option” cancer support group, at 803-939-8774.

Reporters who would like to provide coverage leading up to or at the wrestling match should call Jennifer Wilson at 803-939-4512. Interviews with patients and wrestlers would be available.

About Lexington Medical Center

Lexington Medical Center, in West Columbia, S.C., anchors a county-wide health care network that includes six community medical centers throughout Lexington County and employs a staff of 5,200 health care professionals. The network also includes the largest extended care facility in the Carolinas, two occupational health centers and more than 40 physician practices. At its heart is the 414-bed state-of-the-art Lexington Medical Center, with a reputation for the highest quality care. Lexington Medical Center won "Best Hospital" by readers of The State for ten years in a row, "Best Hospital" by readers of the Free Times, "Best Place to Have a Baby" by readers of Palmetto Parent, the "Consumer Choice Award" from the National Research Corporation and the prestigious "Summit Award" from Press Ganey.