Colleagues and family back long-time East St. Louis educator in fight against cancer
Family, friends and colleagues are backing a long-time East St. Louis educator in her battle against a rare form of cancer.
After initially being told by an emergency room doctor that her intestinal discomfort was caused by food poisoning, Donna Cameron was diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma, a cancer of her adrenal glands.
A fundraiser for the former assistant principal and the current head librarian for East St. Louis School District 189 is being held on Sunday to help finance travel to and from Houston, Texas where she has entered a medical trial for treatment.
The soup cookoff will be held at the Juicy Peanut Bar and Grill, 721 W. Main St., in Mascoutah from 2 to 7 p.m. The event will include raffles, shopping, games, bags and washer tournaments and a silent auction.
Donations also will be accepted. You can donate without fees using the cash app and sending them to $dmc517 or to zelle at 3143696720.
Cameron said her treatments include chemotherapy infusions three days in a row every 21 days and three chemo pills three times a day for three years. She goes back to M.D. Anderson on November 13 for a checkup.
“It’s like a rolller coaster ride,” she said. “It’s expensive. I have the medicine and the trips to Texas. So any help I receive is greatly appreciated.”
Cameron has been employed in District 189 for 25 years, starting as an elementary school teacher. She became the school librarian and assistant principal at Wyvetter Younge Elementary School, before returning to the classroom.
She’s been the district’s head librarian for the last five years.
For more information about Sunday’s fundraiser, call 618-779-0855 or 618-616-1939.
This story was originally published October 21, 2022 at 4:11 PM.
