While Linda Evans was looking in her purse for some chewing gum for her husband at the annual Western Pennsylvania Quarter Horse Association Banquet in February, she heard her name called.

That’s when she found out that she had been awarded the Okee Wyatt Sportsmanship Award, but not for her equine prowess.

Linda Evans, 47, of Shenango Township, is a breast cancer survivor who didn’t let chemotherapy stop her from entering and winning equestrian competitions.

"We give the award to one member each year who shows good sportsmanship, and Linda has not only done that, she did that while she was fighting breast cancer," said board director Nancy Artman of the 400-member organization. "Win or lose, every time she came out of the show ring, she was smiling. She is a very special person."

But to Linda, the award represents much more. It represents that she’s made it to the other side in her fight with cancer. And she did it her way.

She was diagnosed with the malignancy Oct. 13, 1998, had her surgery Nov. 9, and began her chemotherapy in December.

A Vice President at First National Bank in Hermitage, she recalls being told by CEO Steve Gurgovits, "We will work through this, whatever is best for you. You can come to work in your P.J.’s or work from home."

But she didn’t miss a day of work at what she calls her "six story support group" at FNB’s Hermitage office, even when she lost all of her hair, and wore unique baseball caps to work.

"Sometimes I didn’t even wear a cap. No one blinked an eye," she said.

But it wasn’t just at work she found support. Her family and friends encouraged her to keep riding and competing in quarter horse events.

"The December after I was diagnosed, I bought Imperial Bid, a quarter horse that my friend and co-worker Elizabeth Sant, and my trainer, Rudy Byler, wanted me to buy," she said. "They told me, you’ve got to ride to keep yourself well. Bid is easy to ride and very agreeable."