When Lisa Henak moved to Ketchum from Seattle in 1982, she was a self-confessed ski bum. Among hundreds other like her, she waitressed for years in Sun Valley to feed her skiing habit.
Diagnosed with breast cancer in early August, Henak has become another kind of statistic.
"I self-detected the lump," she said. "It felt unusual, different. I was due for a mammogram anyway. There is no cancer in the family, none whatsoever. So I was shocked. I was in denial. Then I went to Seattle to get a second opinion at Swedish Medical Center."
Now, a benefit will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 23, from 6-11 p.m. at River Run Lodge. There will be a no-host bar, raffles, a live auction emceed by Larry Flynn and music by Henak's favorite band, the Heaters. Mike Murphy will entertain. The groups, all of whom are donating their time and goods, are longtime friend's of Henak's.
"My most favorite job was being cocktail waitress at the Ram Bar for the Michael Murphy show," she said. "I would ski all day and then work. It was a blast to laugh with Murphy, and the hours were a skier's dream."
She became a certified massage therapist and worked for the Sun Valley Athletic Club for about 14 years. Seven years ago she became a licensed real estate agent at Sun Land Investments.
"The story is true—I came for the winters but stayed for the summers," she said. "I have always continued to be stimulated by the outdoors and the beauty it provides. I love the health-conscious people that it attracts, and have always felt privileged to be part of this community.
"If I can make a difference through my experience, I'll be happy. I feel like I've been in breast cancer college. Everyone must do self-exams. If you feel something, be pro-active."
Henak went into a tailspin after her diagnosis, part angry, part fearful and living in an "unknown zone."
"I was in turmoil," she said. "You never think it will happen to you. I've never been sick, but it's been an amazing journey. I come from a very positive family, And the love that has been poured out to me by my friends in this community and in Seattle has made all the difference. I'm blown away by this group, my beautiful friends—Lory Raney and Jim Latva, Mary Poppen, Jill West, Burnsie, Narda, Cin, Veronica, Katherine and Heather—who organized the benefit. The biggest stress for me is finances. I'm an independent contractor. I'm treading just to stay afloat like a lot of people here."
Reaching out to others has been Henak's modus operandi for years. She volunteers for many organizations including Special Olympics and has been a regular donor to Expedition Inspiration for Breast Cancer Research.
"Laura Evans became a dear client and friend off mine while massaging her at the Athletic Club and in her home throughout her battles with cancer," she said about the late founder of Expedition Inspiration. Henak said the experience taught her lessons in how to live with dignity.
Last weekend, Henak cheered her sister on during the 60-mile 3-Day in Seattle, an annual fundraising walk to support breast cancer research. She attended the closing ceremony with her mother and grandmother.
Before leaving the valley, she said she expected that ceremony to be "quite emotional, to say the least."
"The following morning Monday, Sept. 15, I will be arriving at Swedish to be the first one in for surgery to have a mastectomy on my right breast. Then I'll have chemo and pray for a miracle. I believe in miracles and I'm going to battle this."
Tickets are available and donations may be made through Katherine Wessel at 720-4728. Tickets will also be sold at Atkinsons' in Ketchum and the Ketchum Post Office. A Lisa Henak Benefit Account has been set up at Wells Fargo bank in Ketchum.
Lisa Henak and her pug Juliet are familiar faces in the Sun Valley area. Photo by
