Stacie McCormack grew up in Pekin and after graduation started working at Menards. There she found something more important than building supplies, she found John, the love of her life. After three years of dating, they got married in 2007. They were both fortunate enough to find jobs at Caterpillar, which turned out to be a true blessing due to their unforeseen need for future medical insurance. 

Like most fun-loving couples in their early 30s, life was good. They had good employment, love, and each other. But that all changed in January of 2013. John had a lingering cough that wouldn’t go away and after three months of dealing with it, he went to the doctor. After some tests it was determined that Stacie and John were about to face the battle of their lifetime. John had Lymphoma. Over the next four years of tears and what seemed like endless procedures, Stacie lost her fun-loving John to “Large B Cell Lymphoma.”

Although John’s struggle was over, Stacie, with some encouragement from friends and family, decided to make a difference in remembrance of John. She started a nonprofit called “Lymphoma Is a Loser.” 

John was a fun loving, beer drinking, kind of guy who liked golf. With the help from friends, Stacie started the Johnny Mac Golf-Palooza on September 14, 2019, in memory of John McCormack aka Johnny Mac. This year the registration started on June 1st and the event is August 24th at Parkview Golf Course. Their goal is to raise $15,000 at this event for Illinois Cancer Care. Come play golf, have fun, and help raise money for a worthy cause.

Totes for Ta-Ta’s. This event raises money for breast cancer. The next event will be October 19th at the Pekin Moose Lodge. There will be a live and silent auction of new and gently loved purses. The event includes a bargain area starting at $5.00. Follow them on Facebook for more information.

When life threatening health issues strike, there aren’t any correct reactions. People must handle their grief in their own way. Stacie’s way of handling the loss of her husband John was to get involved with helping others through fund raising and donating proceeds to the Illinois Cancer Care. Life is difficult but through the loss of a loved one Stacie has decided to help others and “Remember the Good Times.”

Please help support Stacie’s events and help make a difference for others.