Surprise Squad: Gazette photographer Jim Slosiarek battles mind most cancers as neighborhood rallies assist

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Jim Slosiarek has spent 26 years capturing jap Iowa’s most memorable moments by way of his digital camera lens. Now, the Gazette photographer is going through a analysis of inoperable mind most cancers.

Weakness in his arm, then leg, led to the invention in April. His profession is on pause as he receives radiation and chemotherapy.

“Every day where he doesn’t have those more difficult side effects we’re very grateful,” stated Angie Slosiarek, Jim’s spouse.

Career documenting Cedar Rapids

Jim Slosiarek has photographed main occasions all through Iowa. He documented the 2008 flood when 10 sq. miles of Cedar Rapids have been underwater. He captured a 3-year-old ringing a bell on the finish of her most cancers therapies. He photographed Caitlin Clark’s return to Iowa after her first NCAA championship recreation.

“You want to boil that assignment, that story down to its essence,” Slosiarek stated.

“I don’t think there’s probably a high school gym or football field that he hasn’t been at,” stated Jeff Linder, a Gazette sports activities author.

Community response

The analysis introduced an outpouring of assist from readers.

“There are readers who have reached out as well, which is amazing, and people who know his work or maybe have clippings of his work,” Angie Slosiarek stated.

Two Gazette sports activities writers, Jeff Linder and Madison Hricik, are working a half marathon on June 7 to lift cash for the Slosiarek household. The fundraiser is known as Project SLO Miles.

Linder has labored with Slosiarek on the Gazette from the beginning.

“Jim’s about the same age as me, he’s one year younger, it could just as easily of been me… could have been anybody,” Linder stated. “Hey we gotta get through this. Jim is going through a lot and we gotta come through.”

Hricek has been on the Gazette for lower than a 12 months. Slosiarek helped her when she was beginning out.

“He helped me with what to look for with my first camera so I can start learning how to take my own photos too,” Hricik stated.

“Jim has a village in Cedar Rapids of people he might have never met but have loved the fact that he took a photo of their kid who’s now off in corporate world or playing in college sports or something… that picture he took 10 or 15 years ago is still hanging on their fridge,” Hricik stated.

Angie Slosiarek stated the assist has been overwhelming.

“It’s just been incredible the people that remember the little things from way back,” she stated.

“It’s an incredible feeling, it just really is,” Jim Slosiarek stated. “I don’t know how to express in words that I have an effect on people so in such a way they’re all pulling for me.”

The inaugural Cedar Rapids Marathon takes place June 7. Project SLO Miles obtained a $500 donation from this month’s Surprise Squad. Donations might be made by way of Venmo at @ProjectSLOMiles.