[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:00:08] Speaker B: My name is Nancy Farrow, also known as Mama Lu, and I'm the founder of Epic Experience.
Epic Experience mission is to empower adult cancer survivors and thrivers to live beyond cancer.
I hope that as you listen to campfires of Hope Living Beyond Cancer, you find hope, healing and empowerment. Through stories and education, we aim to guide those impacted by cancer and more importantly, offer love and support to anyone out there who needs it.
This is beyond Cancer.
[00:01:10] Speaker A: Hello, everybody. Colin Farrow here, executive director of Epic Experience Hope. Everybody watching is doing well wherever you are, and you are doing your own journey of living beyond cancer. I'm so excited to share that. I am here with our new director of programs and alumni engagement, Denny Williams, also known as Stretch. Hello, Stretch.
[00:01:33] Speaker C: What's happening, man?
[00:01:35] Speaker A: Not much. Excited to bring you on for this episode. Excited for you to also be able to share a little bit of your story so everyone can get to know you.
[00:01:44] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:01:45] Speaker A: You know, really it's for everybody out there, very excited about this. As many of you know, Mamaloo retired and is leaving a huge legacy that we want to continue, me personally as her son, for the impact cancer had on our family, but also for the, you know, thousands of others that we have touched throughout these 12 years of epic Experience being around. And a big part of that was we needed somebody that, you know, really knew what our community was all about. And that's exactly what Stretch knows and what he's going to bring to the entire community going forward. So with that being said, Stretch, if you want to go ahead and introduce yourself, tell a little bit about your story so that others can get to know you in your new role.
[00:02:32] Speaker C: Absolutely. Well, yeah, if we never met before again, Denny Williams, AKA Stretch, live on the outskirts of Louisville, Kentucky. I went to winter camp in March of 23, and what the program did for me changed my outlook. Just with my cancer diagnosis, it made me a better man. It made me a better father, a better husband. And for that, I owe you all the world, man. The programming is fantastic. And when I got home, I made it my own personal mission to. To give back. And obviously been volunteering with you ever since. And then now, as you mentioned, Mamaloo retiring and we had the conversation about coming to work for you full time. It is truly an honor. I can't wait. I can't wait to grow this organization and just give back. I want everybody to have the same experience I did back in 23, and that's going to be my motivation going forward.
[00:03:30] Speaker A: Awesome. And Stretch, share a little bit more of before camp. Right. What did life look like for you when you heard the words you have cancer, what was your diagnosis, etc.
[00:03:41] Speaker C: Yeah. So in January of 22, I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. I basically had a pain in my abdomen, and this wouldn't go away. And through doctor's appointments, through a clear ultrasound, still no answers. I finally went and saw a GI doctor and they agreed to run a scope just to investigate. Obviously, when that scope came, they found a tumor. It was basically located at the bottom of my esophagus, where it enters the stomach.
You know, it. It was.
I don't know, when. When you see pictures and you hear conversations, it's still not real. And even at that time, I still didn't believe it was cancer. I just thought it was something else.
Obviously, when testing happened and I got that phone call and it came back positive, I was devastated. You know, I didn't know where to go, didn't know what to do.
You know, the only thing I could think of was my family, my two boys, my wife. I didn't really know how to operate, how to talk to them about it.
And as the days went by, I fell deeper and deeper into depression. I was scared, I was angry, I was mad. You know, every. Every emotion you can think of was running through my head, and I didn't know where to go. At least for me.
You know, my diagnosis was adenocarcinoma, which is one of the fairly more aggressive types. And so that doctors had to move quickly. So as soon as I heard those words, I mean, I was in chemo and radiation within two weeks. So I really didn't have time to process it. I just had to go with the flow and the action plan that was put in place.
You know, in my speech last year at the gala, I talked about for that I'm grateful, but I couldn't smile. And, you know, that's what I. That's what I go for, and that's what I live by. And epic experience made me smile again. So through treatments, through surgery, it was a rough time. I could see myself going down the wrong path.
You know, my wife had to sit me aside and basically tell me, like, you need help. And I didn't know where to go. I didn't know how to. How to reach out and find out. Luckily, experience came into my life and changed me, changed me for sure. So, again, honored, and it's going to be just a blast working for this organization.
Big shoes to fill, obviously, with Mama Lou retiring, but we'll do our best, right? Yep.
[00:06:05] Speaker A: Exactly. Exactly. So, and then, you know, it is esophageal cancer awareness month. With that said, if there was somebody out there, you know, that might be having a symptom or things like this or things maybe someone should think about with just esophageal Cancer awareness Month, is there anything maybe you would tell the audience out there when it comes to bringing awareness to your cancer specifically, don't.
[00:06:28] Speaker C: Don't ignore the signs, you know, acid reflux, hiccups, burning sensation when you wake up in your throat. Don't ignore the signs, you know, all that can cause esophageal cancer.
Just get checked out. You know, that's my biggest thing, is just get checked out. Right? Don't. Don't delay. Go in, see a doctor. It probably is nothing, but it's better to get those words, you know, at least for me, I did. I caught mine in time. Before I hit a stage four diagnosis, you know, my tumor was isolated to one spot. It hadn't affected the surrounding areas. So I did. I caught mine in time. And the survival rate and the chance of reoccurrence and a chance of, you know, no evidence of disease skyrockets the earlier you can catch it. So if that is my advice today, if you feel something that you don't think is right, please go get seen by Dr.
Awesome.
[00:07:19] Speaker A: So as far as your life before epic experience, you know, what was your path before you came into this role? What were you doing for your career, for fun? You know, a little bit about who you were before jumping this role with epic experience as the program director and alumni engagement?
[00:07:36] Speaker C: Absolutely. Well, you know, given my nickname Stretch, you know, I stand 6 foot 8 inches tall, so I was. I was a big, athletic kid. Grew up playing baseball, Grew up playing basketball. Baseball is my favorite sport. I ended up playing in college at the University of Louisville.
You know, now I have two boys, obviously, trying to pass that down, following them in sports. But for the last 16 years, I've been involved in college and high school athletics as an athletic director. And it was long days, long nights.
You know, anywhere from following freshman baseball, football to basketball to the high school I was at, had 20 different sports. So we were always doing something and, you know, doing something for that long.
It was time for me to make a change.
It was time for me to enjoy my time with my family.
And again, I was just grateful when the epic experience opportunity came about. It's a new passion of mine.
You know, anybody that gets hit with a cancer diagnosis, it changes you as a person. And, you know, I vowed to myself to give back, and this is the perfect opportunity for me to do that.
[00:08:59] Speaker A: Awesome.
[00:09:00] Speaker C: Awesome.
[00:09:02] Speaker A: And so, going forward, right, with this role, what are you most excited about? What is it that you want the community to know as far as just your, you know, what, what you're excited about, kind of your own personal mission, right, when it comes to your role in this organization?
[00:09:17] Speaker C: Sure. Well, you know, I'll go back to my previous roles as an athletic director. You know, a big part of what I did was engage with alumni. Right.
My favorite part of that position was just getting to know the athletes, getting another story who they were. I enjoyed watching them, you know, start out as freshmen and playing for their senior year. So I think that's one big important aspect I want to bring here is again, engaging with our alumni, learning who they are, you know, learning their stories. You know, that's. That's what excites me. That's what gets me. That's what gets me going. So I think I'm going to bring that into this role, too. So if you don't know me, be ready, because here I come. And we're going to talk soon.
[00:10:02] Speaker A: Awesome. And again, you can't miss him. He stands real short. You know, what you guys don't know that are watching this is actually his cameras on his ceiling fan to make it so he can see him. Well, not quite that much, but.
[00:10:14] Speaker C: Yeah, I'm sitting on the floor.
[00:10:16] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:10:16] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:10:16] Speaker A: As my son has gotten to know stretch, you know, he compares stretch to how tall buildings are, are. So, you know, we have that to live up to as well. But, you know, but he truly excited to have him in this role. Big, big physical body, but even bigger, bigger heart and soul. And he wants to show up for everybody. So we're, you know, you're where you're supposed to be. You know, it's kind of as we are looking to the growth of epic experiences. I was looking to what I was looking for, for a team member and a teammate to move forward and empower this community. I want someone's compassionate that was going to treat everybody the same and really just be here for the right reasons. But most of all, have felt what epic experience is about. And because as we always say, right, we're an epic family. And it's hard to just bring, you know, family members off the street and have them feel it and know it. And you felt it, you know it, you live it. And we're just so excited to have you as a part of this team. So, Stretch, I will stop with one last. Just whatever is on your heart and minds. Anything else that we didn't talk about here that you want to share with the community.
[00:11:24] Speaker C: Grateful. I can't wait to get this thing moving, to reach out, to start building these relationships with just different partners, especially in this area of the country. Right?
So I can't wait. And again, so very thankful to the Pharaoh family, to Mama Lou for her vision, and obviously to the the past, present, and what could be future Epic experience participants. You know, we're going to continue this thing for a long time and again, just blessed to be here. So thank you.
[00:11:58] Speaker A: Thank you. And lastly, I should also ask, you know, as we say on our our podcast, when our awesome volunteer host, Sunshine interviews all of our folks, you know, the real important question within you know, these platforms when we do an interview is, you know, when it comes to marshmallows of the campfire, low and slow or quick and crispy?
[00:12:25] Speaker C: See, I'm a quick and crispy guy. I don't want to wait around when I want to eat something, I'm ready to do it. So quick and crispy, you got to have a little texture. Give it to me now. I want it.
[00:12:34] Speaker A: Okay, perfect. So we all know that he's ready to move in this role as well. He's not patient. So I will take that as well.
[00:12:40] Speaker C: That's right.
[00:12:41] Speaker A: Excited to have you. I'm excited for the community, get to know you a little bit through this interview and more with interactions that you will have both individually and community wide. So, again, welcome to the team and we will continue to grow this organization together and impact the lives of many that are facing cancer. Whether you're a caregiver, thriver, or survivor, know that we have a place for you and myself, Stretch and the rest of our team and volunteers are here for you. So, Stretch, thank you.
[00:13:09] Speaker C: Thank you. Absolutely. Let's do this.
[00:13:12] Speaker A: All right, bye, everybody. Have a great day.
[00:13:14] Speaker C: Take care.
[00:13:22] Speaker D: Thank you for listening to this episode of Campfires of Hope Living Beyond Cancer. For more information about Epic Experience and our programs or to donate, please visit our
[email protected] Music for this podcast is provided by Moonshiner Collective. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us so we can share our story with more people. Also, be sure to subscribe wherever you get podcasts so you'll know when new episodes are released. We hope you come back and join us for our next episode.
[00:13:56] Speaker B: Fine.
[00:13:58] Speaker A: Police still are not family man.
[00:14:04] Speaker C: We will rise once again.
