~In Memory~
"In Memory of Patty Greenwood"
I have to share a funny story about Patty Greenwood that this picture reminded me of. One evening Heidi Cypher-Harrington and I went to Walmart and these two gals got out of a truck pulling a horse trailer and went inside. I grabbed one of our flyers and was going to catch up to them inside and invite them to come ride with us in our fight against Breast Cancer. I did not get a real good look at their faces but I seen this pinkish colored shirt with white writing on the front. So With Heidi reminding me that they were going to think I was a creeper (every step of the way) I went in search of them. Well at this time
Heidi knew Patty but I had never met her just chatted with her a few times on Facebook. So there she was down one of the isles. So I go up to her all excited and show her our flyer for "Saddle Up For The Cure". I then explain why I am hunting them down as I hear Heidi's voice in the next isle saying "Creeper". When I get done spitting out my whole story this gal looks at me and says, "well I am not pulling a horse trailer tonight, but I do know who you are. I am Patty...Patty Greenwood". Well you know me and the tears started. So we hugged and started laughing as her friend (who was here visiting from another state, sorry bad with names) and I dried our eye's. About that time I seen Heidi at the other end of the isle and started hollering "look it's Patty" as if she were a famous person everyone should know. I guess at that time Patty became, my hero, my inspiration as we stood and talked and listened to her story. Then Patty said she was getting tired so she should finish shopping and go home. As we turned to walk away, at the other end of the isle was another lady with the same exact shirt on. The lady with the horse trailer, We made direct eye contact and then she walked away. I have always knew in my heart she was the Angel that brought Patty into our hearts that night.
- Pamela Keen-Sommars
I have to share a funny story about Patty Greenwood that this picture reminded me of. One evening Heidi Cypher-Harrington and I went to Walmart and these two gals got out of a truck pulling a horse trailer and went inside. I grabbed one of our flyers and was going to catch up to them inside and invite them to come ride with us in our fight against Breast Cancer. I did not get a real good look at their faces but I seen this pinkish colored shirt with white writing on the front. So With Heidi reminding me that they were going to think I was a creeper (every step of the way) I went in search of them. Well at this time
Heidi knew Patty but I had never met her just chatted with her a few times on Facebook. So there she was down one of the isles. So I go up to her all excited and show her our flyer for "Saddle Up For The Cure". I then explain why I am hunting them down as I hear Heidi's voice in the next isle saying "Creeper". When I get done spitting out my whole story this gal looks at me and says, "well I am not pulling a horse trailer tonight, but I do know who you are. I am Patty...Patty Greenwood". Well you know me and the tears started. So we hugged and started laughing as her friend (who was here visiting from another state, sorry bad with names) and I dried our eye's. About that time I seen Heidi at the other end of the isle and started hollering "look it's Patty" as if she were a famous person everyone should know. I guess at that time Patty became, my hero, my inspiration as we stood and talked and listened to her story. Then Patty said she was getting tired so she should finish shopping and go home. As we turned to walk away, at the other end of the isle was another lady with the same exact shirt on. The lady with the horse trailer, We made direct eye contact and then she walked away. I have always knew in my heart she was the Angel that brought Patty into our hearts that night.
- Pamela Keen-Sommars
I will never forget the day my beloved friend Patty told me the news that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Ironically it was October which is known as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month”. We laughed about that to make light of the situation as she told me what their plans were in treating her cancer.
I remember thinking to myself “ breast cancer won’t take her”. It will probably slow her down for a little bit after her surgery and during chemo, but she’s not going to die from this. Patty’s much to tough and stubborn for breast cancer to keep her down for long.
Oh, how I would give anything for that to be how this story ends, but it’s not. I had never known anyone who had breast cancer before, let alone someone who died from it…until Patty.
We were together with some friends playing sand volleyball the night she told me about her cancer. Patty was always so active and involved in a lot of extracurricular activities. She had so many friends and was so well known. I’m not sure if it was because of that reason or because she just had one of those personalities that drew people to her. I would have to say probably both.
It never mattered who you were; family, friend, co-worker, acquaintance, or complete stranger…if you were in Patty’s company you were always a friend! We laughed and cried, we had long talks and sometimes just acted plain crazy! I can still hear her voice and her laugh. She was always so beautiful, in every way. I can remember exactly what she was like before cancer and I hope I never forget those things.
Patty fought a long hard battle with her breast cancer. She kept fighting past the point where most people would give up. Yet she had such a positive attitude about it. Always showing concern and demonstrating her everlasting love to her family and friends. Even though Patty would do anything for anyone and often did, at one of her benefits she expressed to me how she couldn’t believe that so many people would go out of their way to help her. She was so overwhelmed by the outpouring of support.
One of the most vigilant supporters for Patty was the organization Saddle Up for the Cure. Not only did they raise money for Patty to help with the enormous cost cancer was causing, they also donated items for the silent auctions held at Patty’s benefits. They didn’t know Patty before she got sick but yet they were so willing to help out. Saddle Up for the Cure is just a blessing and I know how much Patty appreciated all they did for her and the friendships she gained as well.
I will never again look at breast cancer the same way. It might be able to take away someone so precious to you, but it can’t take away all the memories you cherish. God Bless those who stand up to it and fight.
- LaRea Kovar
Hi my name is Bobbi Jo and I want to tell you about my mom, Patty, and how Saddle Up for the Cure helped her during her battle with breast cancer. Well first of a little about my amazing mom, she was born in 1969 in Wadena MN, and raised on a little farm a few miles out of town. Ever since she was a little girl she loved horses, so despite her mother being terrified of them, her father bought her first pony when she was 10. Her name was Lady and like many ponies she had a tendency to be a bit of a menace at times, but this was no problem for my mom, she was a natural with horses. Lady stayed with us until the day she died, she was actually the first horse I ever rode. When my mom became a teenager she bought her own horse since she had outgrown Lady. Nikki was the name of her new horse; she was a paint mare my mom bought from a neighbor girl. Paints were my mom’s favorites. We also had Nikki until she passed, but we also had two fillies out of her that we still have to this day. I sometimes think that my mom and Nikki were soulmates; it was an incredible bond they shared.
When my mom was 15 she met my dad and a year later they were married and expecting me. Three years later came my brother, David. He and I were both taught to ride and take care of horses from a very early age.
She and I would take our horses on trail rides and to fun shows for saddle club, it was something we shared together. In 2001 my mom remarried my stepdad, Steve; they actually met out at a trail ride we were on. His family also belonged to our saddle club, so we all went on the rides together as a family from then on.
In September of 2010 we received the bad news; my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time at the age of just 41. She underwent a lumpectomy and had 6months of chemo and 5 weeks of radiation to follow. We thought it was over after that, but it wasn’t. When she went in for her 3 month checkup they found a new spot, we would learn a year later that this new one was an extremely aggressive and very rare form of breast cancer, less than 1%. Once again she underwent surgery and more chemo and more radiation, thinking at this point it was still something we could beat.
In the summer of 2012, by pure mishap (or God working in wonderful and mysterious ways, depending on how you like to look at things) my mom was approached in Walmart by a few members from the Saddle Up for the Cure group. After talking and learning about what my mom was going through they asked if she wouldn’t mind being one of the local people they walk/ride for in the area parades. She accepted, even though it was hard for my mom to accept help from others, she hated feeling like a charity case; she was an incredibly strong and independent woman. The truth is the cost of cancer is incredibly high. Driving to and from Dr. visits, and of course there aren’t many cancer centers in our immediate area, medical costs and not being able to work while undergoing treatment really sets a person back financially.
The Saddle Up for the Cure group donated their proceeds from their ride in the parades to my mom, and made her an honorary member given her love and passion for horses. This group helped her so much, not only with monetary help, but they offered her words of encouragement when thing weren’t going well and offered to help with anything else she needed from them. What an amazing organization, to care for the recipients even after they donate their funds. They could walk away after, feeling like they did their part, but they don’t, their hospitality doesn’t end there.
Truth be told, I don’t know if their hospitality really ever ends. My mom passed away a little more than a year ago (Nov. 2013) and they still keep in contact with me and my family. This past summer they even asked if they could do their N.Y.Mills parade ride in honor of my mom and asked me, my brother and sister-in-law, my stepdad and a few other family members to ride/walk with them. What a pleasure it was to join them and help them to try and collect more donations to help other breast cancer patients in the area. It was really nice to know that even though my mom is gone; her memory will not be forgotten.
My mom receiving
her shirt and honorary membership to the Saddle Up for the Cure group
at her benefit in 2012.
- Bobby Jo Brown
- Bobby Jo Brown