Cancer survivor Stevie Elam spreads awareness on same floor MACC Fund began
CBS 58 MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Fifty years ago, the MACC Fund started on the floor of what is now the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. Now, there's a Panthers player helping spread cancer awareness with his own battle.
"When I walk in this building and down the ramp," Jon McGlocklin says as he reminisces. "I feel like it's game day. And I start to get nervous. I’ve only been back here a few times, all the years."
Jon McGlocklin has a half century of history with the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.
"Well it was right here," McGlocklin recalls. "It was right at mid-court. The podium and Eddie [Doucette] emceed it."
Forty-nine years later, the arena holds even more special meaning.
"Little did we know that was 49 years ago and we're still rolling and trying to save kids' lives," McGlocklin says.
Milwaukee Panthers player Stevie Elam is a childhood cancer survivor. As a child, Elam didn't directly benefit from the MACC Fund.
"They told me about it, and it was just instantly like yeah this is pretty cool," Elam said.
Stevie Elam
Stevie Elam
"Three years old, I just remember hospitals a lot. A lot of treatments. A lot of chemo. And just seeing my family. You know, my family was just a little sad," Elam recalls. "I kind of could tell. And I knew something was wrong and then I realized my sister was, you know, acting different so I knew. "
Now, Elam plays on the same floor where the MACC Fund was born a half century ago. And Stevie is helping the MACC Fund spread awareness for childhood cancer research needs.
Jon McGlocklin
"Fifty years ago? He might not have made it," McGlocklin says. "And he's made it. And he's made it big and he's a player. A Division One player and be significant because of the drugs that they received okay. They're still drugs. We still wanna get to the point. Well, we gotta make it better than that even."
In order to play Division One basketball, Elam has to go above and beyond what most other athletes don't have to do.
"I caught a couple cramps in my body," Elam said. "So I had to just drink a lot of water these last couple days just to get my body back you know. Normal and just back to just regular form."
Elam was diagnosed with a Wilms tumor, kidney cancer, and now functions with one kidney.
"They're shocked," Elam says with a laugh. "They'd have never known. And you know it's just crazy that you know, you can just take it so far with...one kidney. And just be at a disadvantage and you still can chase your dream."
It’s a daily challenge.
"Well I'm just gonna beat it and I gotta get through it. So that's what happens," Elam says.
"That's an athlete," McGlocklin says.
But one Elam and the MACC Fund meet -- and beat.
"He's a big inspiration as well. And he's a legend. So I appreciate him a lot," Elam says.
Jon McGlocklin, Stevie Elam
