From Victim to Victor to Giving Back!

The Sanctuary is honoring Lent with our Season of Giving and we believe in giving to worthy causes and this is a worthy cause.  We all have family and friends that are victims of some form of cancer. We have seen the effects of this deadly disease. This Thursday we are featuring Quincy Pedew. A vibrant young man in the prime of his life, was diagnosed with cancer of the white blood cells in 2004 and due to many prayers and the advances of medical science Quincy is no longer a victim to this disease but a victor and he is giving back. We have personally seen God work a miracle in his life and it is an awesome testimony to the divine providence and power of God.  Read more of his story of how he went "From Victim to Victor to Giving Back". 
He demonstrates how we are blessed to be a blessing!

Quincy Pedew with wife, Princess Pedew and his three children 
Aaron 16,  Quincy Jr. (QJ) 4 and Alexis 13

Like many of you, I have witnessed first hand the debilitating effects that leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma can have on those who suffer from these blood diseases and on the friends and family who care for and nurture their loved ones. In fact, leukemia still cause more deaths among children than any other cancer.

I was born Quincy Nathaniel Pedew in Kannapolis, NC and I am the oldest child of Theo Wilkerson and James Pedew. I attended A. L. Brown High School where I was a standout football player. After high school, I was accepted to North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham, NC. I played on the football team where I was the captain. In 2004 during my Senior year, I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) which is a cancer of the white blood cells. For 6 years, I was able to live a normal life by taking Gleevec. Gleevec is used to treat a certain types of leukemia (blood cancer) such as Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Gleevec was tremendous in my progression in life. 

In addition to playing football at NCCU, I also coached football where I won a conference championship. In 2006 I left my alma mater and joined Shaw University’s football program winning back to back conference championships. However, in December 2009, my disease relapsed. In order for me to have a good quality of life, my oncologist Dr. Joseph Moore of Duke Medical Oncology recommended a stem cell transplant. Because I did not have a match in the bone marrow registry, I received an umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant on July 21, 2010. My cells did not graft and after 28 days, I had to have a second stem cell transplant. This time Theo Wilkerson, my mom was my donor. After a few days, my cells began to graft. God worked a miracle through my mom. I have been in remission going on three years! 

I  am thankful that I am back to doing what I love most, I am currently coaching high school football at Panther Creek High School in Cary NC. I am also the Director of Sales with Champion Sportswear and serve as Athlete Marketing Advisor for Champion Sports and Entertainment. Sports have always played a major part in my life. I am active in the community by participating and volunteering in service to different organizations. I serve as youth basketball coach and summer advisor with the Salvation Army Community Center, American Red Cross, Be the Match, Peace Missionary Baptist Church and Carolina Skills Academy. 

During my coaching career, I have  maintained membership with American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Fellowship of Christian (FCA) Athletes and North Carolina High School Athletic Association. But my biggest accomplishment is being married to Princess Pedew and my three children Aaron 16, Alexis 13 and Quincy Jr. (QJ) 4.

Now, I have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to help the more than 1 million Americans who are living with blood cancers. Each year the NC Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society hosts the Man & Woman of the Year fundraising competition. This year I was nominated to campaign for the 2013 Man of the Year. The campaign will elapse over a ten week period beginning February 19, 2013 and ending May 2, 2013. Our team goal is to raise $100,000, which will go directly to LLS in support of its longstanding mission to find a cure for blood cancers and improve the quality of life for patients and their families. I am honored to be nominated as LLS provided resources to me and my family during those difficult months. 

With support, LLS can continue to fund critical research in the fight against blood cancers as well as provide outstanding patient services. If you know someone who has been touched  by cancer please consider a gift in honor of that person. Blood cancers in particular know no boundaries, but you can join us in the fight for a cure. 

You can make a secure donation online by visiting my Leukemia & Lymphoma Society page at http://www.mwoy.org/pages/nc/triangle13/qpedew and click on the Donate button 
or by sending a check or money order by May 2, 2013. Please make payable to:
 The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 
401 Harrison Oaks Blvd., Suite 200, 
Cary, NC 27513 
Memo: Quincy Pedew

To learn more about my fight against leukemia 
check out my short documentary.

My interview on My Carolina Today

The Sanctuary encourages you to show your support to Quincy. Let's help him become Man of the Year, but most importantly lets help the next generation of children and adults that will be diagnosed with Blood Cancers! For more information visit:
Facebook: QPedew 4 A Cure
Twitter: @QPedew 4 A Cure 
Webpage: http://www.mwoy.org/pages/nc/triangle13/qpedew
Email: [email protected]