CLINTON — Clarence may have gotten his wings, but some angels don’t need wings to do their good work.

Take Roberta Tarr for instance, who works as a Chemo Angel.

Tarr of Clinton has survived both kidney and breast cancer and knows firsthand how debilitating chemotherapy can be. So when she read a magazine article about the national non-profit organization called Chemo Angels, she was moved to become an angel.

“Chemo Angels was not in existence to my knowledge when

I was going through chemotherapy,” Tarr said.

“But when I read the article, it just brought back up the horrible memories of going through chemo and how devastating it was to a normal lifestyle, that I decided this program sounded like the answer to help a lot of other people to have something to look forward to other than doctors, needles and things like that.”

Cancer patients who receive chemotherapy and struggle with the physical, emotional and mental rigors of the treatment deserve encouragement and brighter days, according to the Chemo Angels’ Website, and the organization tries to help by matching a patient, or “buddy,” with an angel.

In three years, Tarr has teamed up six buddies across the United States to give them an extra emotional lift they need.

“It is to give support to people going through cancer, particularly chemotherapy,” she said. “A chemo angel sends gifts every week and labels the packages as ‘Angel Mail.’ I send books, tapes, CDs, bath products and other small things.”

Tarr also sends weekly letters, written in such a way so as not to elicit a response but to let the buddy know that he or she is cared for.

“I am always upbeat. Positive, positive, positive,” she said.

“I tell them ‘I am a twice cancer survivor. I understand and it’s a horrific thing you’re going through but you can beat it.’ Once you have survived cancer and gone through chemo, your zest for life is more awakened,” she said.

When Tarr’s buddies have completed their chemo regimen, she sends them an even better gift.

“After five to six weeks, when they are all done with chemo and have graduated, I send them an even more special gift because they have graduated from the horrible program,” she said. “I will send an artificial flower bouquet so they last longer or jewelry. It’s what I would have wanted to have gotten.”

Chemo Angels is not a friendship service, Tarr said, though she does correspond with one of her buddies by e-mail.

“There is no contact with a buddy unless the buddy so desires,” she said.

“It is specified when you first join the Chemo Angels program, that you don’t expect any ‘thank you’ or any response. It’s totally non-committal. When you go into the program, that is your thanks, just knowing that you’re helping somebody. It is the thought that counts to let them know you are thinking of them.”

While being a cancer survivor helps Tarr understand what her buddies might be going through, being a cancer survivor is not a requirement to join the program.

“When you get a program like this, I think it is the greatest thing ever,” Tarr said. “Having a positive state of mind is one of the biggest parts of recovery from cancer. This program offers a positive affirmation of life.”

Tarr asks people who are interested in becoming a Chemo Angel or those people receiving chemotherapy to visit Chemo Angels’ Website, www.chemoangels.net.

Spencer Webster can be reached at 221-5300 or swebster@south

whidbeyrecord.com.