infinitieplus Magazine Women Today June 2026 vol16 no06 Issue

WomenToday

YONA FLEMING: LEADS THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER

Yona Fleming

At the heart of this year’s Tyler Cattle Baron’s Ball (TCBB) is Ball Chair Yona Fleming, whose dedication and story capture the very essence of this beloved tradition. For 38 years, the TCBB has been more than just East Texas’s largest fundraising celebration for the American Cancer Society (ACS); it has served as a powerful symbol of hope, healing, and community love. As you hold this issue, we invite you to look past the boots, rhinestones, and entertainment to discover the deeper significance of this cherished tradition.

For the past twenty-one years, Yona has called Tyler, Texas, home. She is currently an adjunct professor at Tyler Junior College, an Inpatient Coding Manager at Children’s Medical Center, leads as an Ambassador Constituent Team Lead for the ACS, and a graduate of Leadership Tyler Class ‘37. Her greatest admiration comes from her three children, Natalie Fleming, Erica, and Trey Gray, and five beloved grandbabies.

with the sadness of not being able to say goodbye.

While Yona is single, she hopes to marry one day and jokes that she is accepting applications for Mr. Right!

Alongside her roles in the Rose City, her journey with the ACS began years ago, first volunteering on local committees and eventually lobbying Congress as ACT-Lead for Congressional District 01. Her commitment and service grew out of a place of deep personal loss. Squamous cell lung cancer took the lives of her father, Billy Wayne Childs, when she was just 18, and her grandmother soon after. Even after many years, the pain of those losses leaves an indelible mark. “Their absence left a void I carry to this day, and it drives my passion for ensuring other families have the resources and support they need during such difficult times,” she shares.

Minor clarification and smoothing:

At just 48, her father received his diagnosis but kept the seriousness of his illness from Yona, wanting to protect her as she entered adulthood. Tragically, he passed away only two months later, leaving her

Despite her heartache, Yona’s story is one of grit. She first made her mark for the TCBB as a volunteer on the Silent Auction Committee, building relationships and raising vital funds, helping guide the organization to new heights. She was moved to tears when invited to become the 2026 Ball Chair. “I knew Yona’s passion and drive would make a lasting impact here in East Texas,” said Melissa Ivey, Senior Development Manager of Distinguished Events, ACS. “She is a true champion, working tirelessly to ensure no one has to fight this disease alone.”

Leading forward, Yona is striving to raise $632,000, guided by the theme “Mount Up with Wings Like Eagles,” inspired by Isaiah 40:31:

“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”

For Yona, this isn’t just a scripture, it’s a calling.

Ultimately, she knows this fight is far bigger than anything she can do alone. With immense emotion, she says, “I want to thank every donor, sponsor, and volunteer. You are our hope, and none of this would be possible without your support. God Bless You!”

Contd. on Page 4

One Night, Countless Lives

Cowboy hats, shiny belt buckles, bold lipstick, and lively dance moves set the scene as the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center was transformed into a true country western good time! The legendary band, Little Texas, one of the most recognizable and influential groups to emerge from the ’90s country movement, still performing together after thirty-five years, headlined the event.

Among the evening’s most memorable highlights was Alexus “Lexie” Neptune, affectionately known as “Giggles” and this year’s “Lil Wrangler.” Diagnosed at age

three with a rare brain tumor called craniopharyngioma, Lexie has spent fourteen years bravely facing surgeries and hospital visits, always with her signature humor and positivity. Even in the toughest moments, her spirit shines. Her family says she has a way of reminding everyone around her what truly matters: love and the joy of being alive. Remarkably, when you meet Lexie, it’s her laughter, not her medical challenges that you notice first.

Behind the Scenes/FAQs

Why the venue change?

After eight memorable years at the Texas Rose Horse Park,

Melissa explained that while the decision to move wasn’t easy, it allows the Ball to maximize the impact of every dollar raised. The team is excited to continue this new chapter, with next year’s Ball already scheduled at the Conference Center.

How does the Artist get chosen?

It takes months of scouting and collaboration between Melissa and the Ball Chair to find the perfect fit! They look for artists whose guests will love and keep the dance floor full, all while staying mindful of their budget so that their mission remains the top priority.

Impact Beyond Dollars

This year’s Mission Moment Paddle Raise focused on supporting the American Cancer Society’s Patient Transportation and Lodging Grant Program in Texas, as well as vital lung cancer research.

Donors’ impact since 1946 includes:

• $56 billion in research

• 87 research grants in Texas, totaling $52 million

• Patient transportation and lodging for those facing treatment

• Grants that remove barriers to care and ensure no one faces cancer alone

• 53 Nobel Prize-winning scientists.

• Last year alone, ACS touched 111 million lives through patient support.

• ACS awarded $10,000 to East Texas health systems

• Over 2,000 rides provided to patients from Smith County Indeed, the Cattle Baron’s Ball is a massive undertaking, taking a year to plan, a week to set up, and one day to tear

down. Afterward, Melissa takes a seven-day vacation to recharge before revamping her energy for the following year. Through it all, she is deeply grateful for every donor and sponsor. “I carry the gratitude of families helped by the funds we raise.”

Grow With Us

We invite you to join us! When we team up, we’ll include

your testimony about why you choose to support the event. Your voice can inspire others to join the fight and make an even greater impact.

To learn more about the cause, visit. www.tyler.acscbb.org

For special section page or to secure your advertising space for next year, contact Paula Jimenez at (903) 431-7927 or paula@ easttexasreview.com.

Special events that call for a night out on the town

Milestone moments tend to be few and far between. The infrequency of such events only underscores how important it is to celebrate them. A night out on the town is customary when commemorating a milestone moment, and the following are a handful of events that warrant some celebration away from home.

Anniversaries

Wedding anniversaries merit some extra effort, and a date night with a spouse that lets someone else handle the

cooking can be just what the doctor ordered for happy couples. Wedding anniversaries are not the only anniversaries worth celebrating. Homeowners can commemorate the anniversary of the day they moved into their home, and businesses can take longtime employees out for a meal when they reach a notable anniversary at the company, such as five, 10, 20, or more years.

Graduations

Graduations run the gamut from preschool commemoration ceremonies to middle school graduations to events honoring

high school or even college students. Graduations are particularly worthy of celebrating out on the town, as each graduation along the way is a steppingstone along a student s academic journey.

Retirement

Retirement parties are celebrations that certainly warrant going the extra mile. Individuals work for decades before calling it a career, and a retirement party at a local restaurant or larger venue is a great way to toast one’s life s work and all that lies ahead.

Professional milestones

Retirement may be the ultimate work-related milestone that merits a special celebration, but other moments that ultimately shape and define a person s career also are worthy of commemoration. Families can hit the town when a recent graduate lands his or her first job in their chosen field, and such celebrations also may be in order after

well-earned promotions, career changes or at times when professionals are recognized for their contributions, such as educators earning Teacher of the Year awards.

Notable life moments

Certain moments unrelated to school or work also merit some special celebrations. The birth of a child, closing on a first home,

recognition of a student and/or student-athlete s accomplishments, and the end of a successful treatment for a disease or illness are just some examples of notable life moments that call for a little something extra.

Milestone moments might not come around very often, but when they do, individuals and families can celebrate them by spending a night out on the town.

4 Ways To Eat Healthy Even If You Are Always On The Move

Ahealthy diet pays numerous dividends. Such a diet can help people maintain a healthy weight, reduce their risk for various chronic conditions, including some diseases, and boost energy levels. The energy-boosting benefits of a nutritious diet might be especially appealing to busy professionals and provide the extra motivation they need to embrace healthy eating. Busy professionals know it’s not always so easy to eat healthy. An on-the-go lifestyle only adds to that difficulty, but the following are some ways to eat healthy if you’re always on the move.

1. Plan ahead.

Meal planning is an effective way to eat healthy because it reduces the chances that adults will make impulsive dietary decisions without taking nutrition into account. According to Brown University Health, meal planning can save time and money. Planning also helps people avoid dining out too often.

2. Embrace crockpot cooking.

Slow cooking in a crockpot or slow cooker can help on-thego professionals eat healthier because it allows them to prepare meals on weekends and then eat them throughout the week. That’s helpful for busy adults who don’t have time to prepare homemade nutritious meals on weeknights, when work schedules, kids’ extracurricular activities and other obligations tend to take precedence over healthy eating.

also urges diners to forgo traditionally greasy or oily options like cheese-covered enchiladas in favor of healthier alternatives like tacos featuring fish or grilled chicken.

4. Consider meal kits.

The impact of reading on cognitive decline

3. Learn to dine out healthy.

It’s important that busy adults do not paint all restaurant offerings with a broad brush. In fact, many restaurants offer a wide range of nutritious fare. Diners just need to know which options fit that criteria. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, veggie-based entrees or those with baked, broiled or grilled fish or skinless chicken are nutritious options when dining out. Johns Hopkins

The market monitoring and research firm Statista notes that the meal kit delivery market has been growing rapidly in recent years. Research indicates the domestic market for meal kit delivery services was slightly less than $21 billion in 2022, a figure that forecasters project will rise to around $65 billion by 2030. Such estimates underscore the growing popularity of the services. Though meal kit services vary, many offer the convenience busy professionals are looking for without compromising nutrition. There are a host of ways for on-the-go adults to eat healthy even if they’re pressed for time.

Aging and change go hand in hand. Although some may bemoan the gray hairs that start to arrive or stiffness in the knees that seems to sneak up on a person in middle age, such concerns are not necessarily enough to lose sleep over. However, many people who are 50 or older are nervous about the potential for cognitive issues like dementia as they grow older.

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that 6.7 million people have Alzheimer’s disease in the United States.

The Alzheimer Society of Canada estimates that there were 733,040 people living with dementia in the country as of January 1, 2024. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias can rob people of their memories, personalities

and abilities to live satisfying, independent lives. While it may not be impossible to prevent all cognitive issues completely, there is reason to believe that reading could be an ally in cognitive care.

The American Academy of Neurology says that reading stimulates the brain and has been shown to slow down cognitive decline in old age. Reading also may help slow down memory loss.

The powers of reading were noticed more than 10 years ago when a 2013 study from researchers at Emory University measured readers’ MRI scans as they read books. They found the deeper readers went into a story; the more areas of their brains were activated. This activity remained elevated for several days after participants finished their books. The more a person

reads, the stronger complex networks in the brain become.

Additional evidence that reading can help the brain was noted by researchers at the Texas A&M School of Public Health. A 2024 study suggests that older people with mild cognitive impairment who engage in high levels of activities like reading, hobbies and word games have better memory, working memory, attention, and processing speed than those who do not take part in such endeavors. Furthermore, a 2021 study published in Neurology found that high levels of cognitive activity, like reading and writing letters, can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by five years among those age 80 and over.

Reading can keep brains functioning optimally and potentially delay age-related cognitive decline.