Cancer Survivor Joshua Bell, 24, Joins Rob Fuller Motorsports as Honorary Crew Member for UNOH Battle At The Beach & New Smyrna World Series of Asphalt Events
Team Sponsor, 15-40 Connection, Illustrating Cancer Symptoms Through Young Adult Cancer Survivor Stories
WESTBOROUGH, Mass. (February 17, 2014) — “I kept brushing off my fatigue and back pain…” At 22, Joshua Bell, a senior in college, had a busy schedule of student-teaching full time, working part time, keeping up with his academics, creating his portfolio and applying for post-graduate positions. When he experienced fatigue and back pain, he thought it was normal for how busy he was.
“It kept getting worse, until one morning when the pain began to radiate from my testicle,” Josh recalls. “I completed a self-check, and after realizing there was something there, panicked. Could that be cancer? I totally froze, until two days later when I realized I had to act.”
After a trip to the E.R. and a series of tests, Josh received the news that he didn’t have testicular cancer, it was Stage II leukemia, which had spread to his testicle. Through the next two years he went through several rounds of chemotherapy, several minor procedures, one surgery and many warming and caring thoughts from everyone in his life.
To honor Josh and share his story, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour owner/driver Rob Fuller has named Josh an honorary crew member and will feature a photo of Josh on his No. 15 Chevrolet during the UNOH Battle At The Beach and New Smyrna World Series of Asphalt race events (Feb. 17-21).
“This is an important cause for me and I want to do all that I can to spread the message about early detection of cancer,” said Fuller. “I met Josh last year at the New Hampshire race and wanted to tell his story to help others potentially identify cancer symptoms. I really want to motivate our race fans and my industry friends to share Josh’s story during the Daytona races — someone in their life may need to see it.”
Race fans and industry insiders are urged to share Josh’s story which will be featured on 15-40 Connection social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) during the Daytona race events. [Please visit: www.Facebook.com/1540connection and www.Twitter.com/1540connection]
15-40 Connection is committed to raising awareness of the fact that cancer survival rates in teens and young adults ages 15 to 40 have barely improved since 1975 in large part because of delays in diagnosis. It is empowering individuals with knowledge that wills save and improve lives through early cancer detection.
“Improvements in cancer survivor rates among teens and young adults lag behind all other age groups,” said Tricia Laursen, Executive Director at 15-40 Connection. “Sharing these personal stories is highly important to empowering young adults with information that could save their lives.”
Rob Fuller Motorsports and 15-40 Connection will team up to illustrate cancer symptoms through young adult cancer survivor stories throughout the 2014 RFM race season which will include races on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and Modified Racing Series.
“Two years ago my doctor uttered three very horrifying words, ‘you have cancer,’ and although I don’t know when the end will really be in sight, it is important to stand up, act out, and make sure everyone knows to take care of themselves,” urged Josh. “Only you truly know your body and what’s right with it and what’s not. I kept brushing it off until I finally had to go – don’t let that happen to you.”
Sources: Nealie Stufflet/Rob Fuller Motorsports PR
Photo Credit: Glenn Perry