b'10 CONCORD HOSPITAL TRUSTDonna Kuethe Pedaling forPaysonGiving back to support those who embraced her during her cancer journey at the Payson Center.Donna Kuethe stops short of declaringIn the years since her initial treatmentOn March 7, 2024, she will embark her 2010 breast cancer diagnosis aat the Concord Hospital Payson Centeron a 57-day, 3,100-mile road trip blessing. But the Gilford residentfor Cancer Care, Kuethe has remainedwith WomanTours, cycling across the acknowledges that the friends andcommitted to giving back to supportU.S., from San Diego, California, to caregivers she met along her path havethe professionals who embraced herSt. Augustine, Florida, with a group enriched her life in unexpected ways. during her cancer journey, includingof 25 women. Donning a Pedaling doctors, nurses, technicians, socialfor Payson jersey, Kuethe will ride I dont know that I would say its theworkers, spiritual guides, social workers,to raise funds and awareness for best thing that happened to me, but itand too many others to mention. Shethe Payson Center, while fulfilling a becomes part of your life, says Kuethe,was a member of the pilot Anticancerlifelong dream of completing such who has had no recurrence of theLifestyle Program at Concord Hospital,a trek. She sees it as a chance to disease since 2011. I often say that,which still thrives today, and hascelebrate her ongoing good health when I was 14, I got braces and, when Iremained in touch with the fellowand to express continuing gratitude.was 57, I got cancer. It becomes part ofpatients in the support group who who you are, but I cant imagine my lifehelped her through her darkestWhen I was diagnosed with stage 3 without the people Ive met alongdays. For years, Kuethe has been co- breast cancer, Kuethe says, I chose my the way.facilitating a similar group for thoseteam at the Concord Hospital Breast involved in ongoing cancer care. SheCare Center for many reasons, among In 2013, Kuethe even met and adoptedthem access to the many programs her beloved greyhound, Cody, fulfillingis a regular participant in the RockN Race and, in September, Kuethe sharedoffered at the Payson Center. If I was the wish of a fellow cancer patient whogoing to fight this thing, I was going passed away and requested that sheher story as a featured speaker at the Moonlight Gala, which raised funds toto be all in. Now, anything I can do to look after the pup. help the Payson Center make it easier support the purchase of a new linear Three years after I was diagnosed, aaccelerator for the Payson Center forfor people going through cancer and 66 pound, doe-eyed, white and blackCancer Care. their families is greyhound came bounding into mysomething I will home, took over my couch, and tookAt 71, Kuethe, who retired in 2020 afteralways want over my heart, Kuethe says of the41 years as the director of recreation forto do.dog, who died in 2021 at almost 15. Ifthe Town of Moultonborough, remains I hadnt had cancer, I would never havean active outdoorswoman. had her in my life.'