Bob Needle's journey to The Wellness Community started with his wife, Linda, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in September of 1996. Back then, The Wellness Community was located in a small house on Gilpin Avenue, and Linda was a regular, coming every week to her support group. After a year or so of watching Linda benefit from our services, Bob decided that he would come to the monthly networking group for men whose partners had breast cancer.

Bob describes the experience as an awakening. He now knew that he and Linda were not the only couple coping with this disease and that they were not alone. As time moved on, Bob's participation with The Wellness Community increased. In addition to the men's networking group, Bob also began to partake in the couples' group with Linda. He and Linda were also regulars at a lot of our social activities such as our potluck dinners and joke nights.

Unfortunately, as Bob's participation grew, so did Linda's cancer. She continued to come to her weekly group, and when she couldn't physically come, she participated by telephone. Throughout her battle, Linda proved to be a woman of strength and resolve until the very end. Even though she died in the summer of 2001, she continues to be an inspiration to the staff and her fellow participants.

Linda's death left Bob with a huge hole in his life, and a lot of time on his hands. To make matters worse, his employer laid him off shortly thereafter. Bob was then confronted with a horrible reality; he had just lost the love of his life and he now had too much time to think about it. Instead of shutting himself off, Bob decided to put his time to good use by volunteering at The Wellness Community.

What started off as a diversion to temporarily take his mind off of things grew into a full time position. Bob is now the self-proclaimed Head I.C.O.N. (man In Charge Of Nothing.) Though his title may not illustrate it, the fact remains that Bob is our head volunteer and always says yes. Through these past difficult months he has answered phones, labeled calendars, carved turkeys and recently, Bob has branched out into maintenance.

Bob also participated in this year's Strides For Hope Marathon in Kona, Hawaii. He walked 13.1 miles in memory of Linda and her father and in honor of Linda's brother, who is a cancer survivor. Bob could be the most well known walker however, because he carried his video camera in the entire race and would often sprint ahead and run back so that he could achieve the "right shots." He easily wound up walking over 15 miles and made lots of friends in the process. Bob also got time for some R & R, enjoying rides on both a horse and a Harley-Davidson

Bob's time at The Wellness Community isn't all fun though. He says that even though at times it is a diversion, volunteering helps him stay connected to Linda. By being around The Wellness Community, Bob finds comfort by helping others who are going through the same ordeal he experienced. Volunteering is his new form of therapy.

When asked about what he has learned from The Wellness Community, Bob took a minute to answer, and then said this:

"It's been an emotional experience…I've met people both who have died and who are still living, that are survivors. You know that life can go on after you're diagnosed…but you also know that there is an end, and we have to accept that. It made me realize what love is."

Bob, we would say the same thing about you.

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Linda Demarest
Chris Reeves
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Carol Hiller
Bob Needles