Donora man leads fight against bladder cancer

By ERIC SEIVERLING

eseiverling@yourmvi.com

Having cancer surgery 10 years ago was a life-changing event for Donora resident Bill Russell.

At age 65, Russell had his bladder removed at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center after being diagnosed with bladder cancer. 

The time after the procedure was difficult for Russell, both physically and emotionally.

“They divert urine out of your body from your stomach and it goes into a bag attached to your abdomen,” he recalled. “The first year following my surgery was a dark time. I had never heard of anyone having bladder cancer.”

So when Russell discovered an online discussion forum for other bladder cancer patients hosted by the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, he knew he had to get involved.

Russell is now the organizer and team captain for the BCAN’s Mid Atlantic region for its annual national fundraising virtual walk May 1. The region is made up of Pennsylvania,
West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. 

The event, which will be broadcast on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, coincides with Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto proclaiming May as Bladder Cancer Awareness Month in the city.

Russell will also speak today at 4 p.m. along with doctors, oncologists and urologists, when the organization broadcasts its national pre-event pep rally online.

“My job is to encourage others and get them excited to start a team and participate in this fundraising effort,” he said.

For this year’s virtual walking fundraiser, Russell anticipates as many as 13 teams made up of people on Zoom who will walk in their backyards, around their neighborhoods or on walking trails.

“It’s a fun thing and it gets very competitive,” Russell said. “We’ll give out prizes for first-, second- and third-place finishers.”

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