Venice Paparazzi stopped by the Cow’s End on Washington Blvd. to support Mark-Antonio Grant and the attendees in their efforts to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Many of us know Mark as our City Councilman Bill Rosendahl’s right hand man, but to those people who really know him, he is a great man with a great heart, and is well respected by his peers.

Here is a message from our dear Mark Antonio Grant who is now cancer free. “On Friday, October 9, 2009, two days after having undergone my colonoscopy, I received the news that I had colon cancer. It was the worse news I could have received; yet it has brought out the best in so many people. The support I have received from friends and family has given full affirmation to the words, “No man is an island.” It has also taught me to draw upon an inner strength to deal with both the battle with the disease as well as the ensuing treatments of chemo therapy.

My surgery resulted in the removal of a grapefruit-sized tumor, along with 40% of my colon. This was followed-up with twelve brutal rounds of chemo session. The chemo therapy pushed me physically, challenged me emotionally, and tested me spiritually. It has been the blessings of the encouragement, the support and the prayers I received which has served as a source of strength during some of the darkest hours of my chemo therapy treatments. Ted Kennedy, upon learning that he had cancer, and who experienced seeing two of his children have cancer, not to mention he, himself, having a lifetime filled with more than his fair share of family adversity, said, “I believe that approaching adversity with a positive attitude at least gives you a chance for success.

Approaching it with a defeatist attitude predestines the outcome: defeat. And a defeatist’s attitude is just not in my DNA.” It is such an attitude which has helped me through the rigors of this life-altering experience; through the cancer, through the chemo sessions; and through the chemo side effects of neuropathy as well as blood clots. But, more than that; I found that unwavering support of family and friends served as the anchor through the storm; when the waters of uncertainty and the unknown could easily have set me adrift into the seas of depression and despair.

I also found that I gained strength through a scene I saw in, unbelievable as this may sound, the movie “Rocky Balboa.” Speaking to his son, Rocky says, “Life ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. This world is a mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you down to your knees and keep you there if you let it. You, me, or nobody is ever going to hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit; it how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. It’s how much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.” Though it was I who was diagnosed with the disease, I found that I was not in this fight alone. I witnessed and experienced, first hand, our human capacity for good; our basic instinct for kindness; and our national heritage of public service; all beautifully and touchingly displayed in a fashion which brings full understanding to the belief that when one of us is hurting, all of us hurt.

I have been given a much deeper and very personal appreciation of the spirit of true community that goes hand in hand with the phrase, “I am my brother’s keeper.” And today, I am happy to say that I am cancer free. Yet, as I approach the port of relief from this ordeal, I would be remiss if I did not think of those who are still out there in the waters of uncertainty; those who are just beginning on journeys of their own; and, sadly, those who will not make it to their own safe harbor.

I am currently actively serving as a volunteer for an American Cancer Society Relay For Life event in North Clackamas, Oregon, which will be holding its event the weekend of July 17 and 18. I urge everyone reading this to be sure to see their doctor for regular check-ups, and aggressively encourage others to do the same.

As a survivor, I never want to have anyone go through the rigors that are a part of the battle against this disease; let alone the life-altering feeling which comes when hearing the words, “The biopsy results are back. It’s cancer. I’m very sorry.” Together, we can look forward to the future with confidence and with hope – and we can win.” — Mark-Antonio Grant. PLEASE JOIN MARK ANTONIO GRANT IN HIS FIGHT AGAINST CANCER!

Click here to donate to the American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society mission statement: The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service. For more information, visit Cancer.org.