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Honoring Cancer Victims and Survivors

WVIK News

The Quad City Storm are helping people affected by cancer honor their loved ones. For the second year, the team is hosting "Paint the Ice," a chance for local residents to paint the names of others who have fought cancer on the ice at the TaxSlayer Center.

Sharon Bowker

Tuesday people came to the rink, put on cleats, and walked out onto the ice to paint names and messages.

Sharon Bowker wanted to remember her mother who died of cancer four years ago, and some uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends.

"It's just very therapeutic to come down and be with other people going through the same thing. When you come later in the evening to paint and there's hardly any room left, you realize it's just part of life, we're all going through it in some way, or we will."

Bill Meisch from Davenport wrote his wife's name three times in different colors for the three times she's   
survived cancer.

Bill Meisch

"Because it's easy to give up and she's not a quitter and that's what keeps her going. So that's the least I can do for her."

And Ashley Diefenbach from Davenport wrote the names of her stepfather and boyfriend's brother who both died from cancer.

Credit WVIK News
Ashley Diefenbach

"It helps me because then I can see, because I feel like if I can see his name on the ice, I feel he's still with me. He's still here with us."

Storm President Gwen Tombergs says by the end of the day, there'll be little if any clear space left on the ice, with hundreds of names of victims, survivors, care-givers, family members, and friends.

Saturday night the Storm will sponsor Hockey Fights Cancer Night during their game against Peoria, and raise money for the Unity Point Health Trinity Cancer Center.

A native of Detroit, Herb Trix began his radio career as a country-western disc jockey in Roswell, New Mexico (“KRSY, your superkicker in the Pecos Valley”), in 1978. After a stint at an oldies station in Topeka, Kansas (imagine getting paid to play “Louie Louie” and “Great Balls of Fire”), he wormed his way into news, first in Topeka, and then in Freeport Illinois.