Cancer survivors send message of hope

By Christian Price, News9.com INsite Team

Pat Moses, an 18-year cancer survivor, raced along the Oklahoma River in a dragon boat on Saturday to prove a point.

Festivities at the canoe and kayak Olympic trials included a corporate sponsored dragon boat race. The Integris boat team was made up of cancer survivors.

"We really want to demonstrate to the world that we are everywhere," Moses said. "There are people who have survived that are doing all kinds of things."

Harold Dozier is a 22-year cancer survivor. His life was saved by a stem cell transplant. He now donates time of his giving back to those who have helped him make it through his battle with cancer.

"I have been a volunteer courier for the Oklahoma Blood Institute for about four years," Dozier said. "This coming week I'll make my 24^th trip somewhere in this country to deliver stem cells to another transplant patient."

The survivor team won their first heat. They placed fifth overall.

Cancer survivor Yolanda Emerson put the day's events into perspective.

"I'm doing this because I can," Emerson said. "I'm doing this because I'm alive. I'm doing this to celebrate this moment with all my peers."