TERRE HAUTE —
When Amy Bagnoche of Terre Haute went to the Clara Fairbanks Center for Women for a mammogram in July 2011, she didn’t think she would be diagnosed with breast cancer because — in her mind — she didn’t have time for it.
At 44, she and husband Rick were raising two teen-age children and she was happy with her job at HP Products out of Indianapolis.
So when medical personnel called to tell Amy that the doctor wanted to discuss her test results, she brushed it off at first. And when the doctor confirmed that she indeed had cancer, she didn’t believe it because she was feeling fine.
“We had just gone to French Lick for a weekend with five different couples and had the time of our lives,” Amy Bagnoche recalled.
After digesting the news, Amy said her first question to the doctor was whether she would lose her long hair.
“Looking back, losing my hair wasn’t really that big a deal,” she acknowledged. “But at the time, I thought it was a big deal… When it came time, I never wore a wig. I always wore scarves and hats.”
When Amy knew she was going to lose her hair, she arranged for about eight inches to be cut off and donated to “Locks of Love.”
“Then it just started falling out in chunks,” she added.
Amy Bagnoche received 10 chemotherapy treatments — each lasting several hours — from August through Dec. 13 before undergoing a mastectomy with partial reconstruction Jan. 12. In February, doctors told her that she didn’t need radiation or additional treatments because the tumor was gone.
“They removed it all,” she stressed. “Everything looked good.”
Now 45 and her hair grown back curly, Amy said doctors recommended she continue with her medicine and different types of therapy in addition to follow-up visits and tests in the upcoming years.
Now it’s summer and she’s still trying to regain her strength and conditioning, but she’s noticed significant progress. Her sleeping habits have improved considerably too.
Although expenses for the several-month ordeal were great, the Bagnoches could afford them. But plenty of other families in the same situation struggle to keep up financially.
“There’s always a need for money because breast cancer is extremely expensive,” Amy Bagnoche pointed out. “They say if you’re Stage 1 or 2, [the cost] is between $200,000 and $300,000. For Stages 3 and 4, $400,000 to $500,000. . . There are a lot of expenses.”
That’s why the Bagnoches came up with the idea of organizing the inaugural “Tee Up for TaTas” golf outing to promote breast cancer awareness. It’s scheduled for July 13, at Hulman Links.
Twenty-eight teams of four will compete in a scramble format for various prizes, including $300 for the first place, $200 for second and $100 for third.
Amy said 75 percent of the money collected will go to the Wabash Valley affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure not-for-profit organization and the other 25 percent will go to the Komen research fund.
Amy and Rick discussed the possibility of organizing this tournament when she was undergoing chemotherapy in late 2011. They finalized plans for it in April when she realized she was done with her treatments.
“The response has been absolutely unbelievable,” she emphasized. “It’s almost like everybody you ask [for donations or sponsorships] says ‘yes.’ I have so many volunteers [that] I’m not even sure where everyone is going to park their cars because everyone wants to help and everyone has been touched by someone who’s had breast cancer.”
Amy said she has three goals in mind for her uniquely named tournament.
“First, I want everyone to say, ‘This was the best tournament I’ve played in this summer,’ and I really think it will be,” she mentioned.
“I also want to raise money for everyone who needs it — the underinsured, the people who can’t afford mammograms. And I want to raise awareness … I want the three [goals] to go hand-in-hand with each other. If we make it the best tournament [this year], maybe we can make it two flights [with 28 teams in each] next year.”
Although team entries for the tournament are no longer needed, more information about donating prizes or sponsoring a hole can be obtained by e-mailing Amy Bagnoche at amy@bagnochesports.com.
Among the primary sponsors are NGC Corp. Aviation Consultant for Terre Haute International Airport and the Terre Haute Regional Hospital medical and dental staff, plus there already are 70 (and counting) hole sponsors. There also will be a prize for the participant and volunteer who wear the most creative pink attire.
“Maybe God made me get this [cancer] to make me a better, giving person,” Amy Bagnoche reflected while holding back tears. “With this tournament, maybe we can raise some money and save a life.”
Sports
Teeing up awareness
Cancer survivor organizes golf outing to raise funds to fight disease
- Sports
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West Vigo softball holds off nemesis Edgewood in softball sectional
Ice cream was enough of a reward Monday night after the West Vigo Vikings beat eight-time defending champion Edgewood 6-2 in extra innings in the opening game of the Class 3A softball sectional at Edgewood High School. But that’s not what Vikings want.
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ISU baseball hoping Manaea can get its MVC Tournament moving in right direction
Indiana State’s baseball team has been waiting all season for its stars to align.
But this is the 2013 Sycamores, after all, and after a season in which seemingly little has gone right, it appears its stars will remain crossed at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. -
PREP ROUNDUP: Shakamak's Green hits two homers in win over West Vigo
Shakamak improved to 22-3 on the season behind a complete-game effort from Brett Yeryar, and Patrick Green hit two solo home runs in a high school baseball game Monday.
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Terre Haute North offense unable to get going in loss to Mooresville
Jack Kirchner chose to give credit Monday night to Mooresville pitcher Taylor Chitwood, not to the Greg Maddux-size strike zone she seemed to enjoy.
But if there were no excuses forthcoming from Kirchner and his Terre Haute North High School softball team, it wouldn’t have been hard to find a spectator or two to come up with extenuating circumstances about the Patriots’ 4-1 loss at the Class 4A Martinsville Sectional. -
Terre Haute North looking strong going into girls track regional
Terre Haute North might need an off night for anyone to catch them in the girls track regional at Evansville Central.
The Patriots are as well-rounded as they’ve ever been, and two relay teams are state contenders with times ranking No. 2 in Indiana among times recorded all spring.
Terre Haute South, Northview and Sullivan have athletes among the contenders in multiple events as well. -
ISU sending largest group yet to postseason
On the heels of their thrilling double victory at the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships both the Indiana State men and women moved up in the national rankings which were released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
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South tennis ready for potential challenge in regional
Terre Haute South and Northview take respective records of 10-5 and 11-5 into the Greencastle Regional today.
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Softball sectionals up for grabs
All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.
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Rose to send 5 to national finals
Five Rose-Hulman athletes have qualified for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships later this week at Wisconsin-LaCrosse.
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Terre Haute South, Northview vie for tennis regional title
Terre Haute South and Northview take respective records of 10-5 and 11-5 into the Greencastle Regional today.
Coach Bill Blankenbaker’s Braves will play Seeger at 4:30 p.m., while coach Emily Goff’s Knights will take on Crawfordsville about 6 p.m.
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West Vigo softball holds off nemesis Edgewood in softball sectional
- Local Interest
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Softball sectionals
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Softball sectionals up for grabs
All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.
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Indiana State baseball series canceled
Heavy rain from Thursday through Saturday has forced Indiana State and Tennessee Martin to cancel their three-game weekend baseball series in northwest Tennessee.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman baseball to play DePauw on Thursday after Tuesday's rain
The Rose-Hulman baseball team has rescheduled its non-conference game with DePauw to Thursday night.
The start time remains 7 p.m. for the single nine-inning game that was originally scheduled for today. Tuesday’s scheduled Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at Anderson was moved to Sunday because of rain. -
Vigo County Youth Soccer Association to host Indiana Soccer Cup Games
The Vigo County Youth Soccer Association will welcome more than 7,000 people to its Springhill Drive facility through two tournaments in the next five weeks.
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METRO ROUNDUP: North, South well-represented on All-Star teams
Two Terre Haute schools, two Terre Haute coaches and four Terre Haute All-Stars.
When it comes to the 21st Annual North-South All-Star Classic on April14 at Rose-Hulman, it would be hard to discern any North-South bias.
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Softball sectionals up for grabs
- High School
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West Vigo softball holds off nemesis Edgewood in softball sectional
Ice cream was enough of a reward Monday night after the West Vigo Vikings beat eight-time defending champion Edgewood 6-2 in extra innings in the opening game of the Class 3A softball sectional at Edgewood High School. But that’s not what Vikings want.
- PREP ROUNDUP: Shakamak's Green hits two homers in win over West Vigo
- Terre Haute North offense unable to get going in loss to Mooresville
- Terre Haute North looking strong going into girls track regional
- South tennis ready for potential challenge in regional
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West Vigo softball holds off nemesis Edgewood in softball sectional
- College
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Starter: Sean Manaea started on the mound for Indiana State to start their last MVC series of the year.
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ISU baseball hoping Manaea can get its MVC Tournament moving in right direction
Indiana State’s baseball team has been waiting all season for its stars to align.
But this is the 2013 Sycamores, after all, and after a season in which seemingly little has gone right, it appears its stars will remain crossed at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. -
ISU track sending record 22 to postseason
On the heels of their thrilling double victory at the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships both the Indiana State men and women moved up in the national rankings which were released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
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ISU's athletic treasure trove
Think of every championship that Indiana State has won in each of its sports, past and present. Think of every tournament — postseason or regular season — which the Sycamores have claimed as their own.
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Ort sets ISU RBI record in 16-7 win
Robby Ort celebrated his Indiana State baseball Senior Day on Saturday by becoming the Sycamores’ all-time leader in RBIs as ISU ended its regular season with a 16-7 win over Bradley at Bob Warn Field.
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Bradley ends 16-game MVC losing streak against ISU
Momentum was the only thing riding on Indiana State’s baseball game against Bradley on Friday. With a five-game winning streak going, ISU wanted to keep the good vibes going into next week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
ISU couldn’t do it.
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ISU baseball hoping Manaea can get its MVC Tournament moving in right direction
- Sports Columns
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Shooters compete to fight cancer
A team of employees at Taghleef, formally A.E.T, would like to give a personal invite for you to join in on a lot of fun while helping save lives.
Cindy and Mark Wilguess are the inspiration behind the Taghleef Team. Cindy herself fought this battle with cancer and won. Last year she led her team to be the No. 1 fundraisers in the Relay for Life. - TILL IT'S OVER: Terre Haute Triathlon's new race director seeks more events for his hometown
- TODD GOLDEN: Don't give up on ISU baseball just yet
- TRACKSIDE: Terre Haute's Carmichael enjoying strong spring in modifieds, stocks
- From Terre Haute to the major leagues: Phegley's play could earn him promotion to Chicago
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Shooters compete to fight cancer
- Pro Sports
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Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts received high marks for the impact players the team added through the NFL draft.
Of the 10 players selected, five ended up either starting or seeing extensive playing time (quarterback Andrew Luck, tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and running back Vick Ballard) during the Colts’ 11-5 season.
While this year’s class may not rival that group in terms of name recognition and flash, it may produce just as many major contributors once the 2013 season gets underway. - Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
- Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
- Colts introduce free-agent signees
- Indianapolis franchises punter McAfee
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Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Terre Haute Rex
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Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
The team got off to a sluggish start to settle for third place during the first half of the Prospect League race, but manager Brian Dorsett rallied the troops to a second-half title. - Metro Roundup: Dorsett, Rex players honored in Prospect League postseason awards
- Rex out of playoffs
- Rex mix, match their way to win
- Rex turn eye to Prospect playoffs
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
- Colts
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Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
While the Indianapolis Colts put their rookies and a handful of second-year players through workouts this weekend at the team’s Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, a pair of first-year coordinators are getting a chance to do some valuable on-field work as well.
- Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
- Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Werner at top of game
- Colts select pass rusher Werner in first round
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Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
- Auto Racing
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Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat
And the crowd went wild.
Not only did Ed Carpenter win the pole for the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500, he is the hometown son. Carpenter, the stepson of Tony George, completed his rookie orientation in 2004 and has spent the last several years, proving he deserved to be the IZOD IndyCar Series. There is no questioning his credentials now. - Carpenter wins Indy 500 pole
- TRACKSIDE: Rain still a pain for Wabash Valley racing organizers
- TRACKSIDE: Tough to rise from sprint-car racing, especially in challenging financial times
- METRO ROUNDUP: Rose baseball wins another thriller
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Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat





