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Tag: Pursuit Unlimited

  • Polk mother of three beats cancer with support her three pillars

    Polk mother of three beats cancer with support her three pillars

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    WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — In today’s Pursuit Unlimited story, we look at how faith can play a significant role in recovering from illness.

    A Polk County mom of three is telling her story of how she overcame a cancer diagnosis with support from her community, a place she finds comfort in and a little help from above.

    What You Need To Know

    • Kate Sauers, a mother of three, battled Lymphoma cancer and beat it over the last year 

    • Kate relied on her community, her faith, and the Carol Jenkins Barnett United Way Children’s Resource Center

    • She now teaches a Learning with Littles mommy class at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Winter Haven


    Kate Sauers gets emotional recalling her journey in the last year and a half.

    “This picture is really special because this is at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa,” Sauers said.

    She met with a Lymphoma specialist who told her exactly what she needed to hear.

    “And we saw a specialist there who had specialized in Lymphoma, and he said you are done, you’re in complete remission. There isn’t cancer there.”

    Before that, doctors diagnosed her on her daughter’s third birthday.

    Sauers is now cancer free, and she is relishing her mommy time.

    She teaches a Learning with Littles class at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Winter Haven.

    Her husband is the pastor there.

    Sauers credits her village which helped her get through the challenges.

    “I just think moms need a tribe of people,” she said. “Sometimes mommy is lonely, sometimes it’s hard.”

    Ashley Wilson is a part of Kate’s tribe and told us why it helps in uncertain times.

    “Having that tribe or that village to be that sounding board,” Wilson said. “Oh, my kid’s doing this, is that okay? Like, what should we be doing and how should we be handling this?”

    Most of all, Sauers leaned into her faith.

    “I felt like God wanted me to be here still and that I had a purpose with these kiddos and that’s part of what kept me going,” said Sauers.

    For her sense of self, this mommy also relied on a safe space.

    “I didn’t tell people right away that I had cancer and so I was wearing a wig, and it was just nice to have a place to go where I could be just Kate the mom,” she said.

    That is at the Carol Jenkins Barnett United Way Children’s Resource Center in Lakeland.

    The Center helps families with early childhood development classes.

    And it is a place Saures considers helped her be the best mommy, despite her condition.

    “This has really given me the opportunity to do that when I was diagnosed with cancer, during cancer time and now.”

    Where she has found healing in faith, community, and knowledge. 

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    Roy De Jesus

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  • Goodwill Scholar shares secrets to success

    Goodwill Scholar shares secrets to success

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — No matter who you are, at some point in your life, you are faced with obstacles.

    For one Central Florida man, that hurdle came in the form of a language barrier — and a lack of confidence in himself.

    But when Ismael Hernandez leaned into his new position at Goodwill Industries of Central Florida, the roadblocks began to melt away.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Ismael Hernandez moved from Puerto Rico in 2018

    •  He lacked confidence in his English language skills — and in himself — but found his way to Goodwill

    •  The organization built his confidence, and eventually, Hernandez earned promotions

    • He’s now taking advantage of the Goodwill Scholars program and going back to school


    “I was able to gain trust upon myself and change my mindset,” he said.

    Hernandez started at Goodwill in January 2020. The now production team leader for the Lake Nona store oversees textile productions in the warehouse.

    But four years ago, he could’ve never imagined himself leading a team, especially concerned about his English language skills.

    “Since Goodwill was my first job, it was little bit impossible in my thinking at that time I could be a leader in management,” he said. “English not being my first language, it was a little bit difficult at the beginning. I didn’t learn English until my elementary and middle school in Puerto Rico.”

    Over time working at the store, Hernandez said that his confidence — and vocabulary — grew. He took on new roles and opportunities.

    More recently, he embraced a new challenge: returning to school to gain a bachelor’s degree in business and organizational leadership — on the organization’s dime.

    “For a lot of our students who are getting their degrees, their associate, bachelor’s, master’s, we’re paying for their school, and many of them are going through debt-free,” said Danika Hansen, speaking of the Goodwill Scholars program.

    Hansen, the prosperity planner team lead, said the program is open to all part-time and full-time Goodwill employees, with the organization footing up to $5,250 per calendar year for any trade or collegiate program.

    For Hernandez, connecting with Goodwill Scholars was a life-changing experience.

    “He wanted to go back to school so he could get a better job in the future,” Hansen said. “He started going to Valencia to get his bachelor’s degree. It’s helped him with his education and experience in the store, being able to move up, but also his confidence in knowing what he wants to do with his life.”

    For the man who once suffered from a lack of confidence, the shift in even his own perspective was a welcome surprise that is now paying dividends. He hopes to graduate in December 2025.

    “Knowing that I can do more than what I’m thinking I was able to accomplish … always see the big picture and always try new things,” he said. “Always believe in yourself … and push yourself to the next level.”

    Per the organization, 176 Goodwill Scholars across the six-county Central Florida region have been served with some sort of scholarship assistance.

     

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    Julie Gargotta

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  • Life is still Gouda for hurricane victim who helps others

    Life is still Gouda for hurricane victim who helps others

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The #TampaStrong is trending since the storms impacted the Bay area.

    What You Need To Know

    • Sasha Kelly, who owns Life is Gouda in South Tampa, lost a lot of her belongings in Hurricane Milton

    • Kelly had rallied local businesses and volunteers in relief efforts for Hurricane Helene aftermath

    • The community is now coming to Sasha’s aid

    It is a rallying cry to overcome the challenges presented by hurricanes Helene and Milton.

    In the Moms of South Tampa Facebook group, one mom and her community are doing just that.

    Sasha Kelly started the week by looking at her belongings that remain after Milton.

    “We were able to salvage just a few pieces of furniture and stuff that were in plastic totes and some other stuff,” Sasha said.

    Inside her home in the Ballast Point neighborhood of South Tampa, Sasha barely had words to describe what she has lost.

    “I know it’s just things and they can be replaced,” she said. “But seeing your son’s bed completely saturated and how much he loves his bed, or you know just…you work hard, and it could all be gone just like that.”

    About three weeks ago, the day before Helene hit, Sasha got her permit to open her storefront, Life is Gouda, Charcuteries.

    That grand opening still has not happened.

    Because the day after Helene, a different mission began to rally local businesses and volunteers.

    “We all just got together and started assembling,” she said.

    She turned her kitchen into a meal making factory.

    Then she helped hand out more than 1,300 meals to Helene-affected families, Title 1 schools, and others who were hungry at a time of need.

    “Our community is so beautiful of how it all came together in the darkest times to bring a little light into what we’re going through right now,” said Sasha.

    Which takes us now to days after Milton.

    Again, she is at a loss for words.

    “It’s just gutting,” she said. “Like so many people are out there picking up pieces of their life.”

    But something else has happened.

    That help handed during Helene has made its way back for Milton recovery.

    Eric Sanchez, a dear friend, showed up to move her remaining furniture.

    “It’s very crucial to extend your hand in moments that we really need it,” Sanchez said. “I think she’s a phenomenal caring person and she’s always the friend that you need when it’s most needed as a lot of people have experienced.”

    People have signed up to provide her meals for the rest of the month.

    She says her work to help others will not stop either.

    She says, “Where I’m needed for help and how I can help.”

    Because for her, life is Gouda and so is her #TampaStrong community.

    Sasha is very thankful to all the volunteers and people who have helped her personally and with relief efforts.

    She is pursuing that still and will be donating 10% of her proceeds from Life is Gouda to recovery organizations.

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    Roy De Jesus

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  • Manatee County resident raises money by swimming for suicide awareness

    Manatee County resident raises money by swimming for suicide awareness

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — As Suicide Awareness Month continues, one Manatee County resident swims to raise money for Bay area organizations that help people who are struggling.

    What You Need To Know

    • Manatee County resident and Top Tier K9 Bradenton owner Julie Madison said she struggled with her own mental health before meeting her dog, Laila
    • Now she swims to raise money for organizations like Canines for Heroes, a nonprofit that partners service dogs with veterans and first responders with PTSD

    •  According to the CDC more than 49,000 people died by suicide in 2022 and shows a similar number for 2023
    • In honor of Suicide Prevention Month, Canines for Heroes and Top Tier K9 are partnering to provide seven service dogs for veterans in the Tampa Bay area



    With each stroke moving her forward, Julie Madison said that’s what swimming has done for her life.

    “It makes me feel strong. It makes me feel like where I’m supposed to be,” she said.

    She swims at the Manatee Public Beach about once a week.

    “Sometimes when I’m on land, I feel claustrophobic, and once I get into the water, I just feel this huge sense of freedom and relief. Perfect,” she said.

    In 2005, Madison said she started to struggle mentally.

    “I was so lost. I couldn’t get up out of bed comfortably. It was really painful. I felt super lethargic. Making myself breakfast was like, ‘I can’t do that ’til noon,’ because I just couldn’t pull myself out of bed,” she said.

    After five years of feeling that way, Madison discovered swimming provided her peace.

    “Swimming has really allowed me the opportunity to take situations that may not be the best-case scenario and transform them into something magical and inspirational,” she said.

    Now she swims to raise money for organizations like Canines for Heroes, a nonprofit that partners service dogs with veterans and first responders with PTSD. The organization hopes to raise $250,000 this year.

    They receive donations from people like Madison, who once fundraised by swimming for 18 straight hours in the waters off Siesta Key.

    “It’s about making that impact continually, to allow people the opportunity to see there’s more to life than what they might actually be seeing,” she said. “And I just love opening that door for myself, but I love opening that door for other people too, and watching the transformations in people’s lives.”

    Madison’s transformation started small.

    It was inspired by her dog, Laila, who helped Madison overcome her mental struggles. She says Layla saved her life.

    “I just looked at her and I was like, ‘You deserve so much better than this.’ I couldn’t do it for myself, but I could do it for her. And so, I just started one day at a time, trying to do a little bit more with her, getting to walk to the mailbox,” Madison said.

    When Layla passed away in 2019, Madison had the idea of helping others.

    A year-and-a-half ago, she opened her own business: a franchise for Top Tier K9 in Bradenton. There, she provides basic training to dogs and can also prepare them to be service or emotional support animals. So far, Julie has helped place dogs with 10 people.

    “I love what I do, because it really does save lives,” she said. “I personally know how much a dog can drive someone to be better and want to participate in life.”

    Madison has made strides in her life, and now she’s helping others find their way too.

    In honor of Suicide Prevention Month, Canines for Heroes and Top Tier K9 are partnering to provide seven service dogs for veterans in the Tampa Bay area.

    If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. It’s free, confidential and available 24/7 in multiple languages.

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    Julia Hazel

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