The giver becomes the receiver. Yet she keeps on giving.
That is the story of Becky Carel of Hamilton, Illinois.
For the past six years, Carel has sponsored the Haunted Hustle, a Halloween-themed 5K run/walk. The proceeds from her run help her take part in a larger run, the Hannibal/Quincy to Peoria Run for St. Jude Childen’s Research Hospital.
The Quincy team is one of 32 satellite runs from around Illinois. Like spokes on wheel, these runners converge at Civic Center in Peoria, joining with runners coming from Memphis on the first Saturday of August. Together, the runners raise over $5 million each year for St. Jude.
Carel has usually clocked about 20 miles during this two-day, relay-style run, and meets her goal of $3,000.
This year was different.
Carel was waging her own battle against cervical cancer. During the week her Quincy team ran to Peoria, Carel had surgery to remove her cancer.
Now she was on the receiving end, getting moral support and financial help from HUGS, Help Us Give Support, Hancock County’s cancer support group.
“Their help was huge. I’m the kind of person who has a hard time accepting help. At first I hesitated,” Carel said. A friend assured her this is what HUGS does.
“We received two, $200 gift cards for gas at Casey’s, and a VISA gift card to use for other expenses like food at the hospital. You know there will be medical bills, but you don’t think about the costs of all those trips to St. Louis.”
Now Carel is returning the favor. Proceeds from this year’s Haunted Hustle on Oct. 24, will go to HUGS and Hancock County Fights Cancer. She will be honored as a cancer survivor at the annual Hancock County Fights Cancer event Sept. 26 at The Legacy Theater.
From the time she first had some concerns, it took almost a year and a half for Carel to get her definite diagnosis of cervical cancer.
“In October of 2024, I had some really bad pains and actually passed out on the street,” Carel said. “They did a CT scan on my upper body because they thought it was gall bladder.”
She improved for a while, but Carel still felt uneasy.
“I think a lot of women’s symptoms are overlooked, or blamed on age, menopause or hormones,” she said.
As a personal trainer at Missfit Studio, Carel is up early every day with a busy schedule. Did this explain her tiredness? Carel persisted, trying to find an answer to her weariness and heavy periods.
In July of 2025 she learned of a hormone provider in Muscatine. After seeing her lab work, this provider agreed that something was not right and sent her to an endocrinologist. By that time her heavy bleeding was causing low levels of iron and ferritin. She saw a hemotologist for an iron infusion, and a gynecologist in February of 2026.
“In March of 2026, I finally got the diagnosis. It was a long year and a half of fighting and being proactive for myself. It’s not that I wanted something to be wrong, but I just knew something wasn’t right.”
Cervical cancer does not present a lot of symptoms. It may not even show up on a pap smear.
She had more tests at St. Louis to confirm the diagnosis, followed by her first surgery in June, a LEEP procedure to learn more about the cancer and how to treat it.
Carel was at stage 1B1, which is early, but it is still invasive. Her second surgery Aug. 3 was a full abdominal hysterectomy.
Her prognosis? Tests after her surgery showed clear margins with no cancer, but some evidence of precancerous cells.
“We weighed options for treatment. Some of the treatments can only be done twice,” Carel said.
So she is recovering and waiting now. She will have regular scans and labs every three months.
“If something changes, we can catch it quickly,” Carel said. “It’s kind of scary. It’s just hanging over you. You question every ache and pain, but you’ve got to live. You can’t dwell on it.”
One important part of Carel’s life is slowly getting back to normal. As a personal trainer, she worked out daily. After Labor Day she was able to begin some steps on the treadmill, and started coming in to the studio.
“Everybody starts to work out for the physical benefits, but as you continue to work out you realize what it does to you mentally. You need that activity,” said Carel.
Since her surgery, she has been restricted with no lifting, no bending, no working out. She hopes to gradually increase her activity.
“My girls (clients) have been with me for years. They are self-sufficient. They come in with a key card to work out,” Carel said. Now she can be at the studio and talk with them.
Carel offers some advice from her experience.
“Go to the doctor. Get your screenings.” Carel believed she did not need pap tests at her age. Being very fit, she did not see a doctor regularly.
“If something doesn’t seem right, we know our bodies better than anyone else. A woman should be her own, strong advocate in health issues.”
The 6th annual Haunted Hustle is at 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, starting at Missfit Studio, 1830 Keokuk St. (Rt. 136) in Hamilton.
Runners are invited to come in costume to the 5K Fun Run, for a free will donation to benefit Hancock County Fights Cancer and HUGS. The run route weaves around Hamilton, including a dash through the cemetery, and other spooky surprises.
There will be prizes for top male and female participants, and “best dressed.” Sponsors and vendors at the studio add to the fun.
Call Becky Carel at Missfit Studio in Hamilton for more information, 319-795-1113.