Fallsnewspress.com - Nine-year-old boy joins crusade against cancer

RPC Photo / Ellin Walsh From left, Mitch Neely, 7; Mackenzie Bradley, 11; Nicole Neely, 10; Joey Budrevich, 10; Matthew Plesich,, 10; Ethan Schieve, 10; and Cooper Tedquist, 10. Not pictured are team members Matie Martonchik, 12, and twins Ben and Will Allio, 6.

by Ellin Walsh

Reporter

Cuyahoga Falls -- Inspired by cancer survivors in his own family, 9-year-old Ethan Schieve wants to spread the message of hope. That's why Ethan formed a Relay for Life team -- he says he wants to raise money for the American Cancer Society to assist in its quest for a cure.

The American Cancer Society's Cuyahoga Falls Relay For Life will be a 24-hour event June 6 and 7 at Bolich Middle School's Laybourne Field, 2630 13th St. The oldest member of Ethan's team is 12 years old, the youngest are 6. Many are cousins.

Ethan's mom, Jill, remembers when her then 8-year-old son told her he wanted to accomplish something noteworthy.

"When I asked him what he meant," Jill recalls, "he told me he wanted to invent something, do something to be famous, or something important, but he didn't know how to put this into an idea. It wasn't until six months later, when we went to Relay, that he realized that this was the 'important' thing he wanted to do."

Accompanying Ethan and his mom to the 2008 Relay was his aunt, Linda Bradley.

"Last year I went to Relay for Life in Cuyahoga Falls as a victim of cancer," Bradley recalls. "And this year I'm going to go as a survivor of cancer."

Bradley was diagnosed with fallopian tube cancer in February 2008.

Ethan's mom, who is a teacher at Bolich Middle School, remembers sitting through portions of the 2008 Relay with Susie Greathouse, another Bolich teacher, who has since died of cancer.

"She [Susie] sat with us that day, with her completely bald head, talking to and trying to encourage Linda," Schieve remembers. "What a gift. This year we'll miss her terribly, but the Relay reminds us, although Susie lost her battle to cancer, her spirit to find a cure lives on in each of us."

Ethan's grandparents are melanoma survivors and his grandmother had breast cancer.

"There are a handful of family inspirations for Ethan to start the team," Schieve says, "and the more money there is for research, the more people will survive."

Ethan says he is confident his team will contribute to conquering cancer.

"Whether it's by raising money or one of us becoming a scientist," Ethan says, "the cure for cancer could come from us. We just can't give up." The youngsters are fundraising via e-mails and Web sites as well as going door-to-door canvassing and selling candy bars. They hope to boost the monetary totals they bring to the Relay by offering children the chance to bounce in two inflatables for a donation during the event.

To contact Ethan about joining or making a contribution to his team, call 330-923-3655, or e-mail Ethan at jbschieve@hotmail.com. Visit the team Web site: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/climbforacure.>