Wake ‘N Shake 2020

Phillip Yurchenko is a senior BEM major from San Francisco, California. He enjoys photography, traveling, and hanging out with friends. Phillip was diagnosed with a metastatic brain tumor his sophomore year of high school. Quickly after the diagnosis, he had both brain and back surgery. Because the cancer had spread from his brain to his spine, the doctors had difficulty removing the tumors, pushing Phillip into a year of weekly chemotherapy (4 weeks on, 2 weeks off). The treatment stopped the tumors from growing but did not shrink them. Now, Phillip returns to have MRIs taken every six months to check on them.

Sarah McAuley is a wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, and dog lover who was diagnosed with breast cancer nine and a half years ago. A resident of Winston-Salem, McAuley works at an independent school near Wake Forest and tutors high school kids in the evenings. Some of her favorite activities include walking her Puggle, hiking, traveling to the Tetons, and enjoying football games at her daughters’ colleges. 

In the fall of 2010, after having a clear mammogram 10 days prior, McAuley felt a lump. She rushed to her doctor, received many tests, and finally received confirmation that she was beginning a battle she never dreamt of fighting. After five surgeries, eight rounds of chemotherapy, 33 rounds of radiation, efforts from fabulous doctors and nurses, support from countless friends and family members, and soul-lifting love from her husband and daughters, Sarah won her battle against cancer and was forever changed. The biggest lessons she learned while fighting cancer were to not sweat the small stuff, love your loved ones big, be genuine, and leave your little corner of the world better than you found it.

Andy Tuttle is the Director of Students and Family Ministries at Mount Tabor United Methodist Church in Winston Salem. He and his wife Kim have four children: Tyler (21), Taylor (21), Caleb (18), and Christian (10). He also has two dogs, both black lab mixes, Rascal and Oreo. A University of North Carolina Greensboro Graduate (‘00), Tuttle holds a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Marketing. 

During his time in college, Tuttle felt the call to build the church and not a business. His heart for teens connects to his call to go into ministry. He brings a multitude of experience in youth ministry (over 20 years) and a heart for serving youth, the church, and the community. He has an interest in small group ministry, helping youth feel connected with and integrated into the church, and shares the vision of growing leaders within the church’s youth program. A believer in local missions, Tuttle also strives to serve the local community through partnering with schools, nursing home visits, and service to the homeless.

Tuttle loves the lake, to travel with friends and family, and play games. He is also a cancer survivor. In May of 2015, he was diagnosed with a rare cancer attacking his brain stem called chondrosarcoma. Tuttle underwent major surgery at Duke hospital removing the tumor. He had a two-month rough road of recovery followed by a sixth nerve palsy and an eye patch. He found himself fully dependent on others to help with the simplest of tasks. He was eventually sent to Mass General Hospital in Boston, Mass., for two months of proton radiation therapy. He returned home to N.C. with clear scans. Tuttle has regular visits with a Wake Forest Baptist Endocrinologist and is still cancer-free.

Despite there being no history of the disease in his immediate family, and despite working out every day for more than 50 years, Jim Calhoun has had multiple battles with cancer – prostate, head and neck (squamous cell carcinoma), lung, and stomach. 

Today he is proud to be cancer-free! 

In his free time, he likes to spend time with his family, play golf, read books and watch Broadway plays. He has two granddaughters at Wake Forest and has won more than 900 college basketball games.

Lisa LaRoque was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in June 2018. After her diagnosis, she had a double mastectomy and radiation, followed by hormone therapy. She was declared cancer-free in December 2018 following the completion of 28 rounds of radiation. 

A resident of Sandy Springs, Ga., LaRoque lives with her husband Kent. Together they have six children: five daughters and one son, along with five granddaughters with their sixth arriving in July. Additionally, they have a new Golden Retriever puppy named Sammy. 

Today, LaRoque loves to take Zumba, exercise, golf, swim, garden and read. Most importantly, she is in love with Jesus and enjoys leading a guest services team at her church, North Point Community Church.

Born in Queens, N.Y., Angel and his three siblings moved to Greensboro with their mother, Shellbe in pursuit of a quieter environment. Shortly after moving, the normally energetic Angel began suffering from fevers, complained of pains in his feet, and there were strange “bumps” on his body, originally thought to be mosquito bites. 

In October of 2017, doctors at Brenner’s Children’s Hospital diagnosed Angel with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Since then, Angel has completed his treatment and been declared to have no evidence of the disease. Back to his energetic ways, Angel loves to play basketball and follow his favorite stars.

EmmaLee, nicknamed Emmo, was diagnosed with B-Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) on January 17, 2015 at the age of twelve. She lives in Dallas, Ga., and works at Publix while attending East Paulding High School as an eleventh grader. Some of her hobbies include cooking – particularly baking, traveling especially on a cruise, reading, driving, racing – cheering on Chase Elliot, and spending time with friends.