A Courage Award is not something anyone wants to win, said Joe Krushinsky, American Cancer Society Telethon chairman of the Carbon/Schuylkill area.

"The award is given to acknowledge someone who faces the unimaginable," Krushinsky said.The annual Courage Award recognizes people who have faced all types of cancer and allowed their stories to serve as education and inspiration to other individuals, families and caregivers on their own cancer journey.The awards will be presented during the 37th annual cancer telethon held this weekend at Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe."As if the cancer's not enough of a burden, they are willing to share their story with the public so people can learn from it. They go above the call of duty and that's why we honor them," Krushinsky said.This year Donna Sharbaugh of Lehighton, Tamaqua Area High School teacher Karen Campomizzi and West Penn Township resident Bryan Miller will be recognized during the televised fundraiser."It's heroic. I don't know how I would handle it or whether I'd want to talk to the public about it," Krushinsky said.He said viewers can expect to see a celebration of local talent, compassion and generosity."It's hard to believe it's in the 37th year," said Krushinsky.Donna SharbaughDonna Sharbaugh has been fighting her battle with cancer for over 16 years."I was diagnosed in the summer of 2000 with colon cancer. I had a colon resection where they removed the part where the cancer was. I was very lucky that I didn't have to get a colostomy bag," she said.Four years after the successful operation Sharbaugh developed a nagging cough.After a doctor's visit Sharbaugh was told a large tumor had developed in her right lung and the cancer had moved into her bronchial tubes.She was treated with a technique known as photodynamic therapy. "They inject you with a light-sensitive solution that attaches to the cancer cells. Several days later they put a laser into my bronchial tube and lasered the tumor," she said."I couldn't be out in the sun. I had to have a scarf, gloves and hat in May. I had to drive to work that way. I'd be there in inside the hot car completely covered. People would look at me like I was crazy," Sharbaugh said.In January 2006 Sharbaugh had rounds of chemotherapy in an on-again off-again treatment plan that has lasted for the past 10 years.In 2010 doctors advised her that if she had her right lung removed in time there was a good possibility the cancer would be gone. Less than a year later a scan showed cancer had spread to the left lung."Now they don't know what to do. Radiation isn't an option." Sharbaugh said doctors informed her the radiation could damage the tissue in her only lung severely."The doctor made it clear it's incurable, but can be somewhat controlled. A lot of times it's been hard," she said. "'It's not curable,' has to be the worst thing someone could ever tell you. I had a lot of pity parties for myself in the beginning. Thank God for my husband, I couldn't even cook dinner some nights," she said. "But my attitude changed," Sharbaugh said."I'd smack myself out of it and say 'This is your life and this is what you have to deal with.' If I wouldn't have, I'd be dead already," Sharbaugh said.She tells anyone who will listen, "You can't give up. I try to help other people who are in chemo and tell them, 'Hey it's not that bad. You cannot let this get you down.' That's why the good Lord keeps me on this earth, so I can do some good for other patients."She added, "I'm going down kicking and screaming."Karen CampomizziTamaqua pre-calculus educator Karen Campomizzi agrees it's all about attitude.Campomizzi said, "I was determined I was going to beat this."Campomizzi was diagnosed last May with an aggressive form of breast cancer called HER2Neu."Only 15 percent of women get it," she said.She received the dreaded news in July after an annually scheduled mammogram. A bilateral mastectomy surgery was scheduled almost immediately."I didn't want to give it a place to hide," she said. "Till all is said and done, I have a 93 percent chance of success, and those are pretty good odds."After surgery, she started chemotherapy in August with six rounds taking place every 21 days."The school has been amazing. I worked through the chemo and they lightened my schedule and put hand sanitizer in my room for the kids to use. The custodians wiped down my room every night," she said. "It was hard going to school and grading papers but you have to do what you have to do when you only have so much sick time," she said."The kids would help boost me, they decorated my board with a chemo countdown. My teacher friends cooked meals for me and brought over restaurant gift cards and sent flowers and cards," she said. "It's just been amazing how great friends and family have been."These days Campomizzi is feeling well in body and spirit."My energy is coming back and I'm rested."In addition to being honored, Campomizzi who is also the director of the St. John's Lutheran Church of Tamaqua's Handbell Choir, will be performing."I'm honored to be on the telethon with my bell choir," she said.The bell choir performs nearly every year, and this year after the performance she will be recognized."I have a deep faith and it helped. Faith, family and friends, just the support really helped. I don't know how somebody could go through that alone," she said.Campomizzi advises everyone to conduct regular self-testing and schedule annual mammograms."The sooner the better," she said. "The people who don't get regular testing are the people doctors say they really worry about."Bryan MillerSharon Miller, Bryan's wife of 21 years, describes her husband as "sunny and courageous. His faith is very important to him," she said. "With this chapter in his life his faith has only gotten stronger and I'm very proud to see that."Bryan Miller was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the duodenum, or small bowel, in January.He has started chemotherapy and has completed five treatments thus far.At the time of the scheduled interview Miller had been admitted to the hospital with hope of being released Friday."His faith is still strong. It's amazing to walk along side of him through this," his wife said.Miller lost his mother to cancer at the age of 15."He is such a good example for our daughters. He still tells them to enjoy life. We continue to live our lives despite this," Sharon said.The couple have three daughters. The West Penn resident serves on the Tamaqua school board. According to his wife, he still works every day he can. The plan of treatment is to continue on the chemotherapy until the tumors begin to shrink, with hope that surgery will follow."He's still new in treatment though," Sharon said. "His faith is so important right now. He includes Bible verse (Philippians) 4:13 in all his updates, 'I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.' "For more on the ACS Telethon visit Facebook page ACS Telethon or cancertelethon.org.