Angels to watch over them

ST. MARYS - Tri Star Career Compact welding students are making angels to give hope to those touched by cancer.

Students began cutting, grinding, sanding and welding metal for the angels on Thursday.

One by one, they plan to make more than 100 of the winged messengers in time for the Cancer Association of Mercer County's Hopefest on May 11.

Making one angel after another can be repetitive, but welding instructor Todd Smith said the project is a learning process that gives his 18 students real-world experience and opens their eyes to what they can do after graduation.

"I've already had students tell me 'there's no way I want to work in a factory where I'm going to be doing the same thing every day.' That's a good thing for them to learn at this age," he said.

Cutting an angel out of a sheet of scrap metal, high school senior Jared Heitkamp, Fort Recovery, said "it feels good to help out."

Holding an angel in the air, he said the creations are about 8 inches tall and 6 inches wide. They appeared to be different colors, but Smith noted this is due to the amount of heat generated during the welding process.

Students originally made them as Christmas presents for family and friends, but they thought it would be nice to make more for those affected by cancer.

The cancer association holds a special place in Smith's heart after the group helped his dad, Roger, during his battle with esophageal cancer.

"They're a great organization that's there to help people. They can provide services and insights that those who are walking in that path may not know about," he said.

Even though Roger Smith lost his battle against cancer, "he never gave up," Todd Smith said, with a tear in his eye.

He recalled a particular moment when he was sitting with his dad just minutes before he died.

"I was reading beside his bed, but I couldn't concentrate so I threw the book," Smith said. His dad then told him, "if you break cancer down to its bare bones, it's a win-win situation. Either God will spare me and I will stay here, or he's going to take me to heaven."

Heitkamp's mom, Valerie, is CAMC's director. She said she enjoys living out the mission of the non-profit organization every day by helping patients survive their disease physically, emotionally and financially.

More than 100 angels were given to those impacted by cancer last year during Hopefest, she said, adding she expects the same number this year. She emphasized the angels "let them know there are people behind them and rooting for them."

Leading up to Hopefest, Heitkamp said she thinks of her mom, Bettie Hierholzer, who died of cancer and her niece, Kristen Subler, who survived her battle.

On May 11 at the Wally Post Athletic Complex in St. Henry, survivors and those who died of cancer will be honored during a ceremony as part of the festival.