by Dennis Dalman
Taylor Holthaus, an Albany man battling brain cancer, will be the focus of the 14th annual Joe Boys Poker Run that will start at La Playette restaurant-bar in St. Joseph Saturday, Aug. 16.
Each year, Joe Boys motorcyclists participate with others in the Poker Run and raise money for someone fighting cancer. One need not be a motorcyclist to join the Poker Run. Virtually any motorized vehicles will be just fine, and are welcome to come along.
Registration will start at 10 a.m. Aug. 16 at La Playette in downtown St. Joseph. The run begins at 11 a.m. Participants will visit the following and stop at the following four bars-restaurants: Rudolph’s in Holdingford, Greenwald Pub in Greenwald, Shady’s Hometown Tavern in Albany and Stoney’s in Rockville.
The participants will return at about 4:15 p.m. to La Playette where a meal and silent auction will take place.
Taylor Holtaus
This is not the first time Taylor Holthaus was threatened by cancer. When he was just 8 years old, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Fortunately, treatments got rid of the disease. But then, earlier this year, he began to experience headaches, cold sweats and fatigue followed by extreme pain in his head. After visiting a doctor, the devastating cause was discovered: Glioblastoma – a cancerous tumor on his brain. It was the size of a baseball. Thankfully, after surgery followed by treatments, the tumor had shrunk to nearly nothing. The discouraging news is there is no “cure” for that kind of cancer, but Holthaus and his family are hoping ongoing radiation treatments and visits to the Mayo Clinic can keep the shrunken tumor in check.
Holthaus, who is a strong believer in the power of positive thinking, said he trusts in the power of God and encouragement from people.
“The support from so many people is amazing,” he said.
Holthaus is a logistics coordinator for Kirsch Transportation in Avon.
Born in 1991, he graduated from Albany High School in 2009 and then earned a degree in business administration and management from St. John’s University, where he also played football and baseball. Since graduation, he has worked various jobs in the logistics and supply-chain industry.
Taylor and Jordan Holthaus, who is employed by Anderson Trucking, have two young boys – Mack and Cal.
Holthaus is a member of the INDY Foundation, which stands for “I’m Not Done Yet.” It is a non-profit organization whose members, dubbed “warriors” against cancer, supports people and their families who are battling cancer.
To see and here Taylor and Jordan talk about their battle with cancer, visit “Facebook Joe Boys Poker Run” and then click on a posting there that states “Indy Foundation – April 4.” That video also features delightful footage of Taylor romping with his two young sons in their Albany home.
At their home, Taylor and Jordan Holthaus hold their two sons, Cal (left) and Mack.
