When Chuck Navasky began losing his voice, he was told he probably had polyps on his vocal chords, a common syndrome experienced by singers, he was told. Chuck was in the men's clothing business, but his avocation had long been to play in bands, sing and write music. On closer examination, however, the diagnosis was changed to a stage-three cancerous tumor on the vestibular fold of his vocal chords.
Chuck, married with two children, had to confront the fact that he had cancer, and contemplate modern medicine's armamentarium for the disease. Should he have surgery? Should he undergo chemotherapy? After looking at his options, Chuck underwent surgery and chemotherapy, but he also continued to go to the chiropractor for regular adjustments.
"I started getting chiropractic adjustments long before I was diagnosed with cancer, but without chiropractic adjustments I feel that my cancer would have progressed more," Chuck told DC. "After I was treated with the conventional treatments I still was adjusted by my chiropractor, and I feel that by keeping up with my chiropractic care it kept my immune system very strong."
One of Chuck's chiropractors was his cousin, Howard Golden,DC, a well-known chiropractor in the Atlanta area.
"When Chuck was first diagnosed, he came to me and asked where chiropractic fitted in with his condition," recalled Dr. Golden. "I explained to him that if he chose to go through chemotherapy, that chiropractic would be an important part of building his immunity system."
Chuck concurred: "If you study cancer cases, most of the time people who get sick already had a weak immune system. I know that chiropractic care has truly helped me truly more than I can express. I suggest that all cancer patients continue with or begin chiropractic treatment as a part of the program along with good nutrition, exercise, and faith in God."
Chuck survived the surgery and chemotherapy, and after a long struggle, his doctors one day pronounced that his cancer was in remission. Jubilation, of course, but he knew many cancer patients weren't so fortunate. When Chuck was in the hospital having surgery on his throat, Johnny Van Zant (of the Lynyrd Skynyrd group) and brother Donnie (from .38 Special) wrote a song for him ("Alive") and sent it to him. Their gift of song was a moral boost at a critical time, and gave Chuck the direction to help others who were facing cancer.
He began writing songs for cancer patients in his hometown of Philipsburg, Pennsylvania to give them and their families a moral boost. From this small beginning, Chuck had the idea to raise money for cancer research by tapping into the talents of other singers and songwriters to produce a CD of inspirational music. Thus was born "One Less Tear."
Chuck first enlisted the support of Johnny and Donnie Van Zant. Their song, "Alive," became the first track on the CD. Chuck also recruited M.C. Hammer; R&B performer Howard Hewett; Mark Slaughter; cancer survivor and country star Kevin Sharp; Vince Neil; Olivia Newton-John (also a cancer survivor); actor Tony Curtis, and many others who agreed to contribute to the project to benefit several major cancer research centers here in the U.S.
To attract more attention for the project, sport celebrities also joined the One Less Tear team: Kurt Angle of the World Wrestling Federation; former Pittsburgh Steelers L.C. Greenwood, Mel Blount and Robin Cole; Tony Dorsett (former Dallas Cowboy great); Curtis Martin (N.Y. Jets); Nellie Briles (Pittsburgh Pirates); former heavyweight champs Evander Holyfield and Larry Holmes; Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. (Cincinnati Reds); and former NBA star World B. Free.
Dale Russell, former lead guitarist of The Guess Who, coordinated the production of the CD. Most of the songs were cut in Nashville's Bulldog Studios and engineered by Trevor Johnson, the studio owner. When Trevor was 13, he lost his father to cancer.
The One Less Tear CD contains a two-minute clip of positive testimonials from music and sports figures who have been touched by the disease. The CD will be available in all music stores nationwide. In addition, it has been picked up by Radio Records/Full Circle Productions out of Nashville.
The project has developed not only a CD, but a documentary film and music video. Chuck Navasky, Dale Russell, and the One Less Tear Band are appearing on network television talk shows to promote the project. The WWF is also going to be spreading the word, thanks to wrestler Kurt Angle's contribution to the CD.
The "One Less Tear" CD is dedicated to seven of Chuck's friends who died of cancer in 2001.
Editor's note: If you're interested in supporting the One Less Tear cancer research project, please see the information below.
The "One Less Tear" CD may be purchased for $10 apiece plus shipping and handling, or they may be purchased in counter display units of 30 for $300 plus $5 shipping and handling. For Pennsylvania residents only, a 6% sales tax will be an additional charge. Any interested chiropractors may purchase the CDs by sending a check or money order payable to:
One Less Tear
301 Aggie Street
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
Any questions: e-mail to: kelly1lesstear@aol.com
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