by Bea Peterson
It has been more than 12 years since the 30-something feisty, vivacious Karen McGovern lost her valiant battle with cancer. On Saturday, September 10, her family and friends once again shared stories of the quirky, caustic attorney they loved so much.
They began the Karen McGovern Volleyball Tournament 12 years ago as a one time event to honor her memory and to give something to her community. It has been ongoing ever since. In 11 years the event has raised $150,000. This year the tournament raised an additional $13,194. Karen’s dad, Bill McGovern, reminded everyone that the Karen McGovern fund has absolutely
no administrative costs and it benefits people in the towns of Hoosick, Bennington and Rensselaer County. Bill said the fund doesn’t give a great deal individually, but it helps families meet their budgets in a time of need; a time when illness has laid them low.
Every year the Tournament recognizes an individual who shows the same kind of fighting spirit Karen exhibited during her battle with cancer. This year Amy Squires was recognized. Amy is a wife and mother of a young son. What started out for her as a toothache has become a battle for her life. She has a very rare and aggressive form of cancer called spindle cell carcinoma. She has it in her jaw, the bone of one hip and the lymph nodes in her neck. In January 2011 she underwent 12 hours of surgery on her face at NYU. Since then she has undergone reconstructive surgery and radiation and chemotherapy. As a result of the treatments she has lost some hearing and sight on her left side. On September 1 Amy learned the cancer has not spread, and on September 9 she started another round of chemotherapy. To date Amy has lost 70 pounds.
When Joe Zedalis introduced Amy, he said she was selected as this year’s recipient because she has the same fighting spirit as Karen. Amy thanked everyone and said she knew nothing of the Karen McGovern fund until her illness. She said she is grateful for the love and support of her family and the support she has received from the Karen McGovern organization.
The weather on Saturday, after so much rain, was absolutely perfect for the volleyball tournament. That in itself was a tribute to the McGovern group.
