Kathy Ottele of Salem recently received the top award for excellence as the State Lead Ambassador of the Year from the American Cancer Society-Cancer Action Network in a virtual presentation ceremony held in Washington, D.C. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Twenty-two years ago, those working at Blue Cross/Blue Shield were asked who wanted to participate in a Relay for Life walk at Bush’s Pasture Park to honor someone who died of cancer.
Kathy Ottele of Salem jumped at the chance to pay tribute to her late father, World War II veteran Joe Gilleese, who died at age 84 of pancreatic cancer.
Taking part in that event led Ottele, 70, to volunteer with the Oregon American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, a non-political group that encourages elected officials to make money available to help fight cancer.
Ottele, now the state’s lead ambassador for the society, was recognized recently for her devotion, leadership, fundraising and work to encourage local, state and national leaders to make prevention and elimination of cancer a top priority.
This year the annual award was presented at a virtual ceremony in Washington, D.C., “attended” by 700 advocates.
“I’m both humbled and honored by this award,” she said. “I must thank my team members who advocate to help us reach our goals.”
Ottele, who also serves on the American Cancer Society Oregon and Southwest Washington Regional Board, was selected for national recognition because she is “celebrated across our organization as a standout volunteer and cancer advocate,” said Lisa Lacasse, president of the society’s Cancer Action Network.
“She consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty and is responsible for tremendous fundraising and grass roots mobilization successes throughout Oregon and nationwide,” Lacasse added.
Ottele, who has been the state lead ambassador for two years, spends much of her time collaborating with U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley. She encourages them to press their colleagues to increase cancer funding at the National Institute of Health Sciences and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Other Oregon volunteers meet with local and state elected officials to request that they fund other programs to pay for cancer research and that provide lifesaving screening and treatments, particularly for low-income people.
The organization also urges legislators to take “a look at the laws that prohibit people from taking part in clinical trials,” she said.
The most effective way to persuade lawmakers to act is for volunteers to relate their personal accounts of dealing with cancer.
“Those stories have power,” Ottele said.
Her own story with cancer began with the death of her father, who was a brick mason at the Army’s Umatilla Chemical Depot in eastern Oregon.
Her mother Linda Neary Gilleese, a community volunteer and mentor for Ottele, died at age 84 from multiple myeloma.
Ottele’s sister Pat died after a two-time battle with breast cancer, and another sister, Margee, died of metastatic melanoma.
The family incidences of cancer don’t stop there: Ottele has dealt with four skin cancer diagnoses, the most recent in August.
A number of her friends also have been diagnosed with cancer.
Currently, Ottele is involved in another cancer-related project.
The Oregon organization has joined with the American Heart Association, the Oregon Nurses Association, the NAACP and the American Lung Association among other organizations to encourage a yes vote in November on Measure 108.
Passage of the anti-tobacco measure would place a $2 tax on a package of vaping cigarettes. All revenue raised is aimed at reducing youth access to e-cigarettes and supporting the Oregon Health Plan.
“Tobacco is the number one cause of preventable death in Oregon,” Ottele said.
Anyone wishing to volunteer in any capacity with Oregon ACS CAN may contact Ottele at [email protected] or call her at 503-551-2293.
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