Area Business Helps Woman With Cancer

Stacy Young is a 43 year Muskego native and 1986 MHS graduate who currently resides in Milwaukee. Her broad smile is engaging and reflects a woman who is literally grateful for every day she has, and with good reason.

Young had been diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2010 and has now been fighting ovarian cancer since December 2011. Her hair is just growing back from recent chemotherapy to combat its progress, but her spirit is positive, despite the long journey she's already had to make with the disease.

"It's actually a little scary for me after chemo is over, because going through it, you feel like you're actually doing something to fight it," she said.

No stranger to cancer's effects, Stacy was caretaker for her mother who also fought breast cancer and succumbed to ovarian cancer in 2009.  She also lost her father at the age of 12 to cancer.

As a result, Young has been active in volunteer work, working with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life walk for the past four years, in hopes of helping find a cure for cancer, unaware that her fundraising efforts would be needed herself, but not ruling the possibility out, either.

"My sister and I would talk about it, and we'd wonder if and when one of us would get it, almost joking about it," Young said.

Friends have described her as "amazing and an inspiration," as she has undergone several surgeries, including a double mastectomy and partial hysterectomy done as a preventative measure only to find out that the cancer had already attacked her body yet again.  Two weeks after the partial hysterectomy, she was in surgery again to have a complete hysterectomy. 

"The hope is that this will be the last surgery.  Her medical bills are overwhelming and her insurance doesn’t cover many of her expenses, treatments and the medications she must take," said friend Barb Jozwicki.

Given the mountain of financial bills and Young's current inability to work, friends at Danny Haskell's have teamed up with other pubs in the county to raise funds for Young.

On Saturday, July 21, 2012 Haskell's will be hosting a "Ride for Stacy" poker run and fundraiser to help raise money "for a woman who has always given herself and her talents for others" as the poster hanging in Haskell's.

The Poker Run will begin and end at Danny Haskell’s Pub & Grill in Muskego, with stops at Captain Missy's in Waterford, Lindy's on Beulah, Knuckleheads in Eagle and It Ain't Heaven in Mukwonago and Matty's Pub in New Berlin.

Live music by Union Cadillac will provide the soundtrack for a party that will follow at Haskell's, including raffles, door prizes, 50/50 raffles, etc.   Anyone wishing to donate in any way should contact Haskell's at 262-679-9535, or contact Heidi Flemmer at 262-565-3846 for pick up. All donations are tax deductible. Please make donations at any payable to “Ride for Stacy Young.”

All of the proceeds will be going to help Young pay her medical bills and expenses, and Young herself said the gesture is overwhelming.

"I feel very loved, and it is blowing my mind a little," Young said, looking uncomfortable with the attention. "I'm overwhelmed, but in a good way."

If you have any questions please call Heidi, or Barb Jozwicki at 414-640-1790.