Centreville — Debbie Bendorf may be fighting a tough foe that doesn’t play fair, but that’s not going to stop her from living her life as best she can or spending every minute possible with her family.

“Every day I get out of bed and put my feet on the floor is a good day,” she said on Monday. “I’m still kickin’. I have too much stubbornness in me to go anywhere, yet.”

Bendorf also counts her blessings and is grateful to everyone who contributed to Saturday’s fundraiser for her family. “We think very highly of our family and friends,” she said. “Words can’t express the way we feel inside about the community that we live in. It’s a pretty amazing place — truly a family community where everybody’s got everybody’s back.”

SYA presented the money to her husband Monday evening at their son Jake’s basketball practice. “This event came out of nowhere for us, and we want to say thank you to everyone,” said Bendorf.

“It was a surprise, and it showed us that people can be so kind,” she continued. “It’s an incredible feeling knowing that your kids will be left in a world that’s so full of caring and loving people. There’s nothing more a mom could want.”

Bendorf deeply loves her husband and three sons and doesn’t want to leave them. But, she said, “You’ve got to take what you get and make the best of it. You don’t realize how precious is the gift of time. Every moment matters now, more than ever before.”

Remaining positive, Bendorf said, “I gain my strength from my husband and children, and I’ve made it this far because of them. I’m taking it one day at a time, and I think that’s how everybody should live their life — take every day as a blessing.”