Freshman year can be challenging for anyone, but for Sara Turnbull it was a life-changing ordeal. When she returned for her second semester in January 2005, Sara faced a battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a cancer affecting lymph nodes and other immune tissue.

Nearly three years later, Sara’s victory against cancer encouraged her to support others struggling with the same disease. She will lead a team of walkers in “Light the Night,” a fundraiser for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Saturday.

When Sara, now an Overland Park senior, experienced lower back pain that didn’t go away during winter break of her freshman year, she made an appointment at Watkins Memorial Health Center. She said the doctor had been researching cancer symptoms and realized the back pain was serious. After a chest X-ray, the doctor told Sara that she had found a mass in her chest and that she needed to see an oncologist immediately.

“I just sat in my car in the parking lot and cried,” Sara said. “I was trying to figure out what happened.”

The oncologist diagnosed Sara with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Sara left the University of Kansas to spend the next six months doing chemotherapy treatments at the Kansas City Cancer Center. Sara dreaded the taste of the chemicals and the “vein pain” caused by all the chemicals in her bloodstream during three- to four-hour chemotherapy sessions. She said the worst part was staying strong during a time when so much was unknown.

“Cancer is the biggest emotional roller coaster anyone could ever go through,” Sara said. “You’re extremely scared and sad for yourself. Then you’re bitter, and ‘Why me?’ Finally, you come to the point of ‘Well OK, I’m going to have to do this.’ ”

Sara knew she could count on the support of her father, Dave Turnbull, who had run marathons to raise money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for eight years before she was diagnosed. The diagnosis gave Dave a personal stake in his charity work.

Dave said he had raised about $25,000 for the society through a series of seven marathons before Sara got sick. Sara said she went to almost all of her father’s marathons and was extremely proud of him. After Sara’s first chemotherapy treatment in February 2005, Dave ran a marathon in Austin, Texas, on his 60th birthday. The back of his shirt read, “I’m running for Sara.”

“I knew the whole time it was going to be a good cause,” Dave said. “But after Sara was diagnosed it gave it a whole new perspective in my mind.”

Sara said she depended on the support of her family and friends. Her boyfriend at the time, Evan Thompson, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore, said he tried to visit every day and realized the little things helped. Thompson said he would bring Sara a different drink after each chemotherapy treatment because the chemicals and flavors would taste bad if she drank the same thing every time. Thompson said watching someone close to him fight cancer was life-changing.

“It put a big importance on the sanctity of life for me,” Thompson said. “Every day I just started realizing you may not have another.”

Dave said Sara’s battle with lymphoma brought Sara, her mother and him closer. He said that Sara depended on their support but that they also needed Sara to be strong.

“It was the worst six months of my life,” Dave said. “But in one way it was the best with the way it brought us together.”

Sara’s cancer went into remission in October 2005. She said she returned to the University with an altered outlook on life.

“It was weird to hear people complain about the little things,” Sara said. “There’s so much more going on.”

Sara also became more involved with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the “Light the Night” program. Saturday will mark Sara’s third year participating in Lawrence’s walk.

Sara will lead her team, “Striders for Survivors.” She will be joined by friends and family and encouraged others to participate. Dave will also lead a team, “Sara’s Strollers.”

— Edited by Tara Smith