Cancer Survivor Receives Scholarship

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Photo by Kelly Quinn Photography

Survivor — UAM freshman Joey Donigan, of Dumas, receives his award from Dennis Jungmeyer (right) and Attorney General Mike Beebe (left) at a special presentation ceremony honoring recipients of the 2006 Dennis Jungmeyer Scholarship Awards. Donigan is one of 18 pediatric cancer survivors selected to receive Jungmeyer Scholarships, which are valued at $2,000 each and are presented annually by the CARTI Foundation.

   Joey Donigan, a 19-year-old freshman at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, is among 18 pediatric cancer survivors selected this year to receive Dennis Jungmeyer Scholarships valued at $2,000 each and awarded by the CARTI Foundation in Little Rock.

   Presented annually to current or former CARTI pediatric cancer patients, the scholarships are named in honor of North Little Rock resident Dennis Jungmeyer, a CARTI Foundation Board Member and a cancer survivor.

   For the past 20 years, Jungmeyer has worked with the Arkansas Automobile Dealers Association and the Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas to organize the annual CARTI Kids Memorial Golf Classic, the proceeds of which benefit the CARTI Foundation.  To date, the tournament has raised more than $2 million.

   Donigan was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma at the age of seven and received treatment at CARTI/St. Vincent in Little Rock.  A recent graduate of Dumas High, he is the son of Marilyn & Michael Donigan of Dumas. 

   “I no longer believe that a perfect life is guaranteed, so I don’t take it for granted,” said Donigan, reflecting on his experiences as a cancer survivor.

   “People have become very important to me,” he said.  “Since my battle with cancer and all that goes with it, I have come to the conclusion that we owe each other acceptance not only for who we are but also for where we are in our lives.”

   In addition to Donigan, other 2006 Jungmeyer Scholarship recipients are: Meagan Aitchison, of Greenbrier; Kevin Breashears, of Mena; Adam Brown, of Conway; Morgan Butler, of Hope; Ronald Carr, Jr., of Little Rock; Marcos Davy, of Scott; Nathan Dozier, of Cabot; Rolando Dupree, of Little Rock; Alex Giannavola, of Little Rock; Ethan Helm, of Mabelvale; Eli Lindsey, of Casscoe; Miranda Marsh, of Springdale; Celso Medina, of Fort Smith; Brandon Melson, of Clarksville; Clayton Mitchell, of Paragould; Patricia Morris, of Berryville and Patrick Wyerick, of Maumelle.

   Scholarship recipients were honored at a special presentation ceremony held Aug. 9 in the Tenenbaum Auditorium of CARTI in Little Rock, where Attorney General Mike Beebe and Dennis Jungmeyer presented recipients with their scholarship awards. 

   “CARTI enables cancer patients to meet survivors,” said Ethan Helm, speaking on behalf of the Jungmeyer Scholars of 2006 at the ceremony.  Formerly of Mena, Helm was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin’s Disease at the age of 15.  Today, the Mabelvale, Ark., resident is a 22-year-old senior at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Ill.

   “For the first few months of my disease, I felt so alone, but CARTI showed me I was not,” Helm told the audience, explaining his experiences as a CARTI Kid.  “Other kids like me had fought cancer and won.  Talking to these kids about our experiences showed me that I could win as well.”

   Helm likened the experience of battling cancer to that of fighting a war.

   “Cancer is a war,” he explained.  “It is a civil war in which one’s body rebels against itself.  The war is multi-faceted in that it is physically, spiritually and emotionally draining.  It is painful and long… painfully long.  While I was sick, there were times when I did not believe I could win the war.  I was tired and in pain.  I was a weary soldier.  CARTI showed me that the end of the war was within reach, and I could be victorious.”

   CARTI is a nonprofit radiation therapy center with facilities in Little Rock on the St. Vincent, Baptist Medical Center and UAMS campuses, and in Conway, Mountain Home, North Little Rock and Searcy.  The CARTI Foundation was incorporated in 1983 as a non-profit organization to assist CARTI in meeting the current and future needs of Arkansas cancer patients and their families.

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