To face it a third time, well, it’s enough to crush one’s spirit.

 

But one Becker woman — who is now in the third phase of treating cancer — is not letting the recent setbacks take the smile off her face or defeat her positive attitude. 

 

She’s taking things head on. 

 

 Julie Ann Javes Ruch, 54 years old and married to Ron Ruch, is a familiar face to many as she is a server at the ever-popular Russell’s By The Lake restaurant in Big Lake. She and Ron have three children, Laura (30), Emily (27), and Marshall (23).  

 

Sunday, the Ruch family held a “Team Julie” rally at their home along Rolling Ridge Rd. and invited friends, family and neighbors over for an opportunity to show solidarity with Julie by shaving their heads.

Julie is the proud grandmother of two grandsons with more on the way. 

 

Julie had surgery to remove the tumors in her body but the cells are showing that this second bout was a little more aggressive. The result is Julie needing a vigorous series of chemotherapy. The sessions have just recently started and the effect is Julie losing her hair and feeling extremely ill. 

 

But Sunday with her “Julie fans”, her wonderful smile and robust energy were front and center behind some dark sunglasses and a hat disguising her hairless skull.

 

With the recent chemo sessions, Julie is unable to work and loses her income while in the treatment phase. Family members have put together a GoFundMe page (gofundme.com/26xgyck) to support her during treatment and recovery. 

 

Julie is known amongst her friends, family and neighborhood as being a generous soul who thinks of others before herself. That’s part of the reason she became a server at Russell’s — to bring her twinkling smile and strength of character to her job where she uses her gifts to serve others.

 

“My sister and her husband Ron have supported my family along with the many friends I have in fundraising eight years ago for our service dog Barley,” said Julie’s sister Sally. “I can only hope that we can support her in this same way by reaching out to our family, friends and community and asking for donations to help my sister get through this difficult time.” 

 

Sally goes on to say all Julie worries about is getting to work because she has a wonderful work ethic.  

 

“Her place of employment couldn't be more supportive in this but being self employed and getting paid in gratuities isn't something she is compensated for,” said Sally. “My plight, my ask in this is that you would help in any small monetary way you can to allow for her to not worry about needing to work in the phase of her journey with breast cancer.”

 

The GoFundMe page has a goal of reaching $5,000 for Julie and her family and as of Wednesday of this week, the amount had risen to $1,155.

 

Nick Pittman of Rock Star Sports & Apparel printed and donated the shirts that said, Team Julie on the front and Shave Heads and Kick Cancer’s (image of a donkey) on the back.