Archives for September 2017

A Man On A Mission to Help Fight Breast Cancer 

Cliff Satterwhite was the 9th of 11 children born to Owen and Lillian Satterwhite.  My father was a career military man with service experience on the ground during the Korean War, and as a Drill Sergeant training troops at FT Lewis during the Vietnam conflict.  My Mother was the consummate stay at home housewife who somehow found a way to work part-time at a variety of jobs.  She was an exceptional seamstress and an amazing cook and baker.  After my father retired from the military he fulfilled his lifelong dream to own a restaurant along with my oldest brother, brother in law, and sister.  It was a family run restaurant with my mother making pies, cakes, salads, and other sides, and my brothers, sisters and I prepping food, providing customer service and running the register.  Both my parents taught me, through their actions, not only hard work, dedication, and respect but love and compassion for those less fortunate.

Their lessons guided me through my early life growing up on Ft Lewis, helped me bond friendships on the playground at Tacoma’s Grant Elementary, showed me that hard work sets the foundation for success during my years at Jason Lee Jr High and at Stadium High School.  As an adult those lessons have echoed to me through every major decision in my life.  For that I am forever grateful.  Those lessons stay with me today, I’ve taught them to my children and strive to live by them daily. Cancer has had a major concerning effect on my life, most directly with the death of my Father to Lung Cancer.  My sister is currently battling Breast and Thyroid Cancer.  One of my mentors in the business is a two-time survivor, yet suffers from the effect of chemotherapy.  My wife’s sister is a Breast Cancer survivor.  We both have family members and friends who we have lost to Breast Cancer. Cliff is the kind of guy who will do anything for his friends. Cliff set out to test the very limits of friendship and human endurance. “No sleep breaks,” Satterwhite said.

To raise money for the fight against breast cancer, the longtime karaoke host chose to sing the same Garth Brooks song, Friends in Low Places, continuously for 36 hours at Stars Bar and Grill in Federal Way. “I wouldn’t even call myself a singer,” Satterwhite said. “I like to sing.”

He gave it his best, in honor of his dear friend, Smitti, whose real name is Sondra Holliday.

Satterwhite explained, “She’s just a great inspiration to me.” A two-time cancer survivor, Smitti is a fighter left battered but never beaten. “It hasn’t stopped her,” Satterwhite said. Even the other singers here on karaoke night couldn’t put him off his pace. Cliff just slipped off to the back and kept on singing. “Gave me a makeshift cot in case there’s a failure to launch,” he laughed. “But I’m pretty sure I won’t have to use that cot.” The power of friendship and love carried Cliff right over the finish line. But he probably won’t be singing that song again anytime soon. The impact is deep and has moved me to action. The Real Men Campaign drew my interest because; 1).  It provides another way to raise money for research, services and outreach.    2).  It will raise awareness, and encourage both men and women to get tested.  Early diagnosis is the key to beating cancer.  3).  It will help dispel the myth some people have that men aren’t as susceptible to cancer and that men aren’t as involved in the fight against cancer.

Donate to Cliffs Cause . Lets Fight Breast Cancer Together.
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=43902913&fr_id=85062&pg=personal