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Struthers students support family's cancer fight
By EMMALEE C. TORISK
STRUTHERS
The past two months haven’t been easy for Sam Macklen.
His brother, 22-year-old Dean Macklen, has been in and out of hospitals, battling a cancer that doctors still can’t definitively diagnose. On Thursday night, he was readmitted to the Cleveland Clinic after days of adverse reactions to chemotherapy.
But Friday morning, students and staff at Struthers High School where Sam is a junior, surprised the 17-year-old with an outpouring of support for both him and his family.
About 100 students and staff gathered in the high school’s lobby, greeting Sam with applause, hugs and a few tears. Most donned black T-shirts emblazoned in yellow with an abbreviated form of “Stand Up To Cancer For Dean” on the front, along with Dean’s hockey number and his last name on the back.
Sam said he was, quite simply, shocked.
“It’s nice to know that Struthers is a big family, and that everybody has our backs,” he said. “It just shows how strong our community is, and how kind-hearted people really are.”
Noah Linnen and Austin Yemma, both juniors, organized the T-shirt fundraiser and event during the past two weeks. They felt the need to do something for their best friend.
It was difficult to keep the surprise a secret, though, Linnen said.
He added that money made from the T-shirt sales went toward “things that Dean would want,” and things that would help him get through his hospital stays, such as a video-game system and game and gift cards to GameStop and Best Buy.
“They’ve been my family since I’ve had a family — as long as I can remember,” Linnen said. “Dean is my brother, just like his dad and his mom are my dad and my mom.”
The student body at Struthers High School has long been willing to “support anybody who needs the support,” and will do practically anything to show its support, said Mary Ann Meadows, the high school’s associate principal.
“It shows him that we care about him,” said Meadows of Friday’s surprise.
Dean, a 2009 graduate of Struthers High School, is the son of Richard and Rebecca Macklen. His other siblings are Rich Macklen, 23, and Nicole Reeves Hernon, 34.
Before he became ill, Dean was a senior at Youngstown State University, where he majored in geography/geology. He also worked in the tire shop at Sam’s Club in Boardman.
Family and friends — along with Dean’s co-workers from Sam’s Club — are hosting Dimes for Dean, a benefit spaghetti dinner from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Struthers High School. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children (10 and under), with all proceeds going toward Dean’s medical expenses. For more information about the dinner or to purchase tickets, call Nicole Reeves Hernon at 330-861-2536.