On April 11, Sleepy Cat Urban Winery in Allentown will host the American Cancer Society, broadcasting live interviews by Mike Kelly of top 40 radio station B104 in support of the telethon taking place at Penn’s Peak in the Poconos.

Receiving the Courage Award at this year’s event is Bari Pollock, who manages social media for multiple ACS Relay for Life chapters. Pollock works with teams in the Lehigh Valley, Warren County, N.J., and Rahway, N.J.

Pollock was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer at the age of 28 and quickly learned the value of a strong support network.

“Having that amazing support system makes the absolute world of a difference.

“I ended up at the most amazing oncology office with the most amazing oncologist I could ask for. She made the treatment options understandable, and she has the best bedside manner possible.”

Family also helped Pollock prepare for the ups and downs of treatment. Her boyfriend’s relatives, who have supported family members on their own cancer journeys, stepped up to help the newly diagnosed Pollock.

“It’s better to go into a doctor’s office with more information and more questions,” Pollock says, emphasizing, “You have to be in charge of your own journey.”

Pollock grew up in Matawan, N.J., and lives in Emmaus. One of the adjustments she has made, due to her ongoing cancer treatments, is leaving her teaching career for work in the bakery of a grocery store. Her attitude in this situation is typical of Pollock’s generous spirit.

“I have wonderful managers who are very kind, who understand my situation and what I’m going through,” she explains, adding, “Every job is important. The cookies I’m making — someone could be gifting them to someone who just got a promotion. It can make a difference in someone’s life, even for a moment.”

Relay for Life is a key component of Pollock’s support network. Involved in Relay as a high school student and with Colleges Against Cancer later, she became a volunteer when she received her cancer diagnosis and started with the Rahway chapter.

She now contributes her time and talents to promote the Lehigh Valley, Rahway and Warren County chapters on social media.

“I enjoy doing social media with them because people have become such great Relay family,” Pollock said.

One of her Relay family members is an oncology nurse who is not involved in Pollock’s treatment, but they text each other every morning.

“Even with her very busy schedule, she still takes time to remember me,” Pollock said.

At Relay events, teams man fundraising tables, do laps of the venue to the extent they are able and honor survivors and remember those lost to cancer with luminaria. One Rahway event had a Zumba instructor; Warren County hosted a cakewalk; the Lehigh Valley chapter distributed cards as participants walked the track, with the cards redeemable for prizes.

“Something that’s very touching are the luminarias. We do them in honor of someone who’s a survivor or in memory of someone who passed away, and we decorate them based on the person’s likes and who they were.

“We put little tea light candles in the bag and put them around the track, and [walkers] do silent laps. There was one time I saw somebody kneel down and just cry sitting in front of them. Someone told me, ‘Treat these bags like they’re the real person.’ This is somebody’s family member that we’re honoring.”

Pollock opens her heart to fellow survivors, explaining, “You’re a survivor from the moment you hear the words, ‘You have cancer.’ It doesn’t start from the second you ring the bell but from the second you are diagnosed and start fighting.”