Giving: Family of 'Charlie's Angels' sponsors cancer walk

"Charlie's Angels" - Janie Ollie, Tiffany Ollie and Tracey Ollie Wilson - didn't have to prey on friends when they decided to sponsor a walk in support of bladder cancer awareness.

None of them knew anything about bladder cancer until Charles Ollie, Janie's husband and Tiffany and Tracey's father, was diagnosed in May 2012.

Charles Ollie, 65, a retired sheet metal worker, died four months later on Sept. 5, 2012, and his family wanted to do something to call attention to the disease.

The Ollies sponsored one of 68 walks in 32 states on May 4 to get information out and fund bladder cancer research. It was one of four such walks in Virginia, and nearly 200 walkers raised more than $7,900 for the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network during the 1.5-mile walk around Salem's Moyer Park and greenway, said Tiffany Ollie.

"It makes me feel good that we could help," Janie Ollie said. "We never knew anything about bladder cancer until Charlie was diagnosed."

Since that time, Tiffany Ollie said, "people have been coming out of the woodwork" noting that they have had or knew someone who's had bladder cancer.

"We were really surprised," she said, adding, "Nobody talks about [bladder cancer], so we decided we wanted to do this and get information out. If we can just save one life, we are doing our job."

During the event, a five-year survivor of bladder cancer spoke to the walkers as well as survivors whose illness has come out of remission.

The Ollies, who nicknamed themselves after the television show "Charlie's Angels," plan to make the walk an annual event. For more information, call 797-8003 or visit www.bcan.org.

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Seaman Stormy Martin recently completed Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

Martin is a 2012 graduate of William Fleming High School and the niece of Donna Johnson of Roanoke.

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Pvt. Jermaine Otey recently graduated from recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C.

Otey is a 2004 graduate of Patrick Henry High School and son of Charles Otey of Roanoke.

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The Charity Cottage Thrift Store will hold a rummage sale to benefit Roanoke-area nonprofit organizations Saturday.

The sale will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 304 S. Pollard St. in downtown Vinton, on the Dunman Floral Supply parking lot. Clothing, books, antiques, electronics, furniture and household goods will be sold.

The Advancement Foundation started the cottage as a nonprofit business with a social agenda. Proceeds from the store generate an income for nonprofits such as Manna Ministries, West End Center, Katie's Place and Project Access.

For more information, visit http://charitycottagethriftstore.com/rummage-sale.

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