It's known as "the Silent Killer," but Angie DeWilfond decided to be loud and dedicate the last years of her life to finding a cure.
"She fought, fought, fought the last four months of her life... but that was Angie," said Todd DeWilfond, Angie's Husband.
"She wanted to find a cure for it so that her kids and her grandchildren didn't have to deal with it like she did," said Krista Lindbeck, Angie's Friend and President of CCKMA-QC.
Angie was diagnosed with Stage 3C Ovarian Cancer in 2007.
"We were at a Cubs game in Chicago and she woke up in the hotel room at 3:30 in the morning with just dire back pain," said Todd.
"Ovarian Cancer is very hard to detect," added Krista. "There's not a screening for that and for her it started with lower back pain."
However, family and friends said Angie never let her diagnosis define her. Instead, she told cancer it could kiss her you-know-what and that's how CCKMA - which stands for "Cancer Can Kiss My A**" - was created. Since 2008, the non-profit organization has raised more than $250,000 for cancer research and support.
"The past 10 years have been crazy," said Maddie DeWilfond, Angie's Daughter. "We've had to live with this and I grew up only knowing that my Mom was sick with cancer and that has been a very difficult thing for me, but I can say that it's been one of the biggest impacts on my life."
"Angie never met a stranger," said Krista. "Everyone that she met was a friend and she treated them like that and you know how true that is because of how large her events are and the people that stand behind her."
"No matter what she was going through, she was always thinking of someone else and putting someone else first, so she was an absolute blessing to us all and an amazing woman."
Angie passed away in July 2015, but in her honor - WQAD and Genesis Health System is giving her an honorary nomination for the Jefferson Award.
"It's awesome," said Todd. "It's very well deserved without a doubt."
"It would put a big smile on her face, because a lot of people in the community aren't recognized and that's what's neat about the [Jefferson] Award."
Despite what's happened, Angie's cause goes on. CCKMA continues to hold a car show, a bags tournament, and a major event every year to raise awareness, money, and people's spirits. CCKMA also recently partnered with the Quad City Mallards to "stick it to cancer" during a game. Hundreds of people wore teal t-shirts, players wore stickers that said "For Angie" on their helmets, and Todd got to drop the puck with their son and daughter.
CCKMA is partnering with Gilda's Club to fulfill one of Angie's goals as well. The two organizations are starting a scholarship fund and will be giving four $1,000 scholarships to students who have been affected by cancer either directly or indirectly. The winners of the scholarships will be announced during CCKMA's Annual Event in April 2016. For more information, click here.
WQAD will be introducing you to a new Jefferson Award Nominee every month. In Spring 2016, we will announce who is going to represent our area at the National Jefferson Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The Jefferson Awards are the country’s longest standing and most prestigious celebration of public service. Past winners include Chad Pregracke, Walter Cronkite, Steve Jobs, Paul Newman, and Michael Bloomberg.
To nominate an “unsung hero” for the Jefferson Award, click here.