Resident of Liberty Senior Living Community, a Six-Time Cancer Patient, Walks 50 Miles to Raise Funds
November 27, 2024
CHARLESTON, SC — Cookie Finkelstein, 81, a resident of South Bay at Mount Pleasant in this city, has had six bouts of unrelated cancer. She does not define herself by her history or her 30-plus-year battles with cancer. She does, however, according to a press release, let the disease motivate her to fund raise, mentor cancer patients, and be a strong advocate for cancer awareness, research, proactive care for early detection, and clinical trials.
“I’m an anomaly to doctors,” Finkelstein said. “None of these were metastatic or led to one another.”
She has won two fights with breast cancer, along with single challenges with lung and bladder cancer, chronic leukemia, and melanoma. Despite all this, Finkelstein is reportedly a very energetic, sociable, and active person.
Finkelstein is one of a 24-member team representing the senior living community in LOWVELO, an annual fundraiser that supports the innovative and life-saving cancer research at the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center in Charleston.
This year is the sixth anniversary of LOWVELO and the second time alternative participation for senior living residents has been offered. Last year, a successful pilot program was developed and implemented specifically by and for South Bay at Mount Pleasant, with the senior living community’s team finishing among the top 10 fundraisers.
The official fundraising concept of the event had been for cyclists to earn sponsorships or donations for biking in their choice of one of five different routes varying in length. Because residents of South Bay at Mount Pleasant wanted to participate in fundraising, but via a goal aligned with their fitness level, an alternative option was devised. Residents were encouraged to set their own fitness objectives based on their choice of activity. This year not only was the option repeated, but it was also made available to other senior living communities and schools.
Earlier this year, South Bay of Mount Pleasant residents developed and tracked their fitness and fundraising goals for this year’s LOWVELO. They primarily chose to walk and did so, tracking their mileage or laps indoors, in the pool, on NuStep equipment, or outside. In addition to the resident participation, South Bay Executive Director Sean Davis and Wellness Director Comfort Richardson participated in the actual LOWVELO ride.
Finkelstein set her goal of walking a total of 50 miles but stopped tracking it after she had far surpassed the objective.
“I’m very motivated because of the cause, and the team spirit here was wonderful,” she said.
Rather than asking others for money, which is challenging for her, she personally donated $1,000 to meet her goal.
To date, the South Bay team has raised $8,950 for LOWVELO 2024. The total is likely to top $10,000 by Jan. 1 as donations keep coming in. According to Richardson, the South Bay residents have been active volunteers for their entire lives, and they are proud to have helped support this cause and give back to the greater community.
South Bay at Mt. Pleasant is a premier CCRC in the South Carolina low country. Its 24-acre campus includes walking/bike paths, and the community offers independent living that supports a vibrant lifestyle for active seniors. Shem Creek Health Center, located on campus, offers assisted living, memory care, respite care, and access to skilled nursing care and rehabilitation. South Bay at Mt. Pleasant and Shem Creek are owned and operated by Liberty Senior Living, LLC, a division of Liberty Health that specializes in senior living and retirement communities.
