By Matthew Cimitile, College Communications and Advertising and marketing
As Cole Eicher prepares to graduate, he’s additionally celebrating one other milestone: ten
years of being most cancers free.
In 2014 on the age of 12, Eicher was identified with mind most cancers. After weeks of experiencing
migraines, dizziness, nausea and bouts of double imaginative and prescient, a golf-ball sized tumor was
found at the back of his mind.
He wanted fast surgical procedure.
“Once I was identified, I didn’t know youngsters might get most cancers,” Eicher mentioned. “There was
lots of unknowns going by way of my head. Would I be capable of even make it to highschool,
not to mention school?”
Now a decade later, Eicher has not solely recovered, he’s a nationwide advocate for kids
with most cancers, launching an effort that right this moment is the American Most cancers Society’s (ACS)
official childhood most cancers initiative.
“We’re so happy with Cole and all the pieces he has achieved,” mentioned Christian Hardigree,
regional chancellor of USF St. Petersburg. “Not solely has he overcome a lot, he now
serves as an inspiration to others. That is simply the beginning for him, and his ardour
and enthusiasm will serve him effectively all through his life.”
Days after Eicher’s analysis, a mind surgical procedure operation was performed efficiently.
It was adopted by 30 rounds of radiation, then 4 months of chemotherapy and numerous
hours of bodily remedy to regain motor abilities from strolling to placing on garments.
By October of that yr, he was most cancers free.
“I used to be blessed that there was a therapy choice for me, as a result of that isn’t all the time
the case, particularly with pediatric most cancers,” Eicher mentioned.
He views the final 10 years as a present, one the place he was given time to discover ways to
drive a automotive, make new mates and even win USF St. Petersburg’s cardboard boat race
throughout homecoming week of 2021. He captained the successful vessel, a Mr. Worldwide-themed
boat in honor of the rapper Pitbull.
“And now I’ve the reward of strolling at graduation,” mentioned Eicher, who will likely be graduating
magna cum laude with a Advertising and marketing diploma from USF.
He has taken full benefit of this time by serving to different youngsters identified with most cancers.
After his restoration, Eicher acquired concerned in Relay for Life. This American Most cancers Society (ACS) initiative celebrates survivors and remembers
these misplaced to the illness by organizing relay groups that collect for neighborhood occasions
to stroll, increase consciousness and cash, and supply assist to these preventing most cancers.
Eicher was so touched by the individuals he met and the assist he acquired at these gatherings
that he set a aim of forming a staff.
That aim grew to become Gold Collectively for Childhood Most cancers, a non-profit he began in highschool. He hoped by way of this group to supply
a platform that may increase consciousness for childhood most cancers and funds for analysis
and assist applications, whereas offering communities a car to assist youngsters preventing
most cancers by forming their very own Gold Collectively groups for Relay for Life. It proved so profitable
that in 2018, it grew to become the official childhood most cancers initiative for ACS.
What began as one staff in St. Petersburg is now in practically 150 communities and has
raised greater than $11 million.
“It’s for me a narrative of hope and never giving up,” Eicher mentioned.
This story – which Cole has shared many instances through the years – impressed then-USF President
Judy Genshaft on one such event to supply Eicher a full scholarship to come back to USF.
He selected the St. Petersburg campus for its welcoming environment, neighborhood really feel and
small class sizes.
He grew to become a advertising and marketing main due to his love connecting with individuals, being a model
ambassador and constructing relationships. These had been the identical causes he grew to become a peer
coach on campus, offering steering and serving to acclimate college students into school life.
Throughout his time, he helped practically 150 college students with mentoring and alternatives for
management experiences, setting them as much as succeed.
Eicher additionally assisted in making a scholar membership on campus referred to as ACS with the Bulls.
The membership will likely be bringing a Relay for Life occasion to the USF Tampa campus within the spring of 2025.
It’s these experiences and relationships that he cherishes essentially the most throughout his time
right here.
“My mind most cancers operation happened at John’s Hopkins All Youngsters’s Hospital, proper
subsequent to campus,” he mentioned. “My journey actually feels full circle proper now.”
