MOUNT VERNON – Mount Vernon resident Mary Cunningham and Fredericktown's Mandy Craze knew that their dear friend Lisa Manns had a battle on her hands and she would need their help and support every step of the way.
Little did they know that the three of them, along with their friend Joan Logan, would lend that same help to hundreds of other cancer patients.
"(Lisa) was diagnosed with ovarian cancer," Craze said. "She lives in Indiana and we couldn't be there for her, physically. We made sure that when she got home from her chemo treatment that she had a box waiting for her. It was filled with things she loved, things she thought she might like, and things she thought she could use and that would help her."
The package was a big hit. Even better was the news that Manns — who is the wife of former Fredericktown High School athletic director Kirk Manns — would eventually receive.
"Thank the Lord, she is cancer-free," Craze said. "Then, back in the summer of 2018, we decided that we wanted to continue to send care packages to people battling cancer."
From that small start, Warrior Bags, a nonprofit that has sent over 650 beautifully crafted Amish-made leather bags filled with thoughtful items to recovering chemo and radiation patients, was born.
In three years, Warrior Bags have helped recovering cancer patients all over the U.S. and a few places overseas. The bags contain a blanket and soothing mints to offset nausea brought on by chemo. There is also a chemo band, because many people lose their hair in the course of treatment. An inspirational devotional is included as well. Sometimes what is in the bag depends on what has been donated.
"People make monetary donations," Cunningham said. "We've also had lip balm donated. We've had blankets donated, along with hats, gloves and socks. We are very fortunate with our donors."
Because of the work of these four women, Warrior Bags was recognized by Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush on NBC's 'Today' in a segment of their broadcast on May 12. Lisa Manns received a surprise phone call and flowers — live on national TV — from Hoda and Jenna, along with donations and a visit from Cunningham, Craze and Logan. Since the broadcast, the demand for Warrior Bags has spiked.
"We were doing an average of 15 bags per month," Cunningham said. "Then, in one day, we got 250 requests."
Watch the segment about Warrior Bags on NBC's 'Today' at today.com/video/hoda-and-jenna-surprise-cancer-survivor-who-started-nonprofit-111771205859.
For more information on requesting a Warrior Bag or making a donation, go to warriorbags.org.
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