After growing up attending Strawberry Days festivities every year, lifelong Pleasant Grove residents Marc and Jessica Sanderson will be honored as this year’s Strawberry Days grand marshals.

This year’s Strawberry Days theme is “Home of the Free … Because of the Brave.” Strawberry Days Committee Chairperson Lisa Young said that the committee wanted to choose grand marshals who reflect this theme. There were many wonderful choices that the committee considered, said Young.

The couple, who began dating in high school and have been married almost three decades, were surprised to be chosen, but said that they are flattered and consider it an honor. Typically, the grand marshals participate in many of the activities held throughout the week and the Sanderson family is accustomed to attending the various activities every year. For eight years, Marc Sanderson helped plan the celebration as part of the Strawberry Days committee.

But that may change this year. Marc might still be in the hospital after going through a stem cell transplant as part of treatment for mantle cell lymphoma. “I told them we may not be able to attend, but they still wanted us to be grand marshals,” Marc said.

Since February, Marc has been hospitalized six times undergoing treatment at Huntsman Cancer Institute. He has completed six cycles of one-week inpatient treatments followed by two weeks at home. While Marc is the one with cancer, Jessica feels the emotional, mental and even physical stress of it as well.

But, the recent battle with cancer is not the only reason committee members chose the Sandersons to represent the city during Strawberry Days.

“They were nominated because of our theme, ‘Home of the Free … Because of the Brave,'” said Young. “They have battled through adversity and are currently battling cancer. He also brought the fire department into a new era.”

In 2006, Marc became the city’s fire chief. He led the transition from a volunteer department to a combination of full-time and part-time firefighter/paramedics.

“It enhanced the levels of service,” he said. Before that time, volunteers would be called at their home during an emergency, drive to the station, get their gear and then respond. “There would be 20 minute response times,” Marc said.

Now with a full-time department, response times are much faster so that the residents of Pleasant Grove can expect the best possible care in times of emergency.

Also under Marc’s watch, the city purchased a large tiller truck. “This was the best decision to spend the money to buy that,” he said. Because of the truck, the number of vehicles and personnel needed to respond at emergency situations is decreased, saving money.

While Marc led the fire department, Jessica was the department’s biggest supporter. “The guys would say that she was really the chief,” Marc said. “They respected and treated her as good as they do me.”

Marc retired from the department two years ago and began working as director of emergency services at Mountain Point Medical Center in Lehi. But, the bond that the Sandersons have with the Pleasant Grove Fire Department has not broken. “The brotherhood and support from the fire department and our close family get us through the hard times,” said Marc.

Marc and Jessica have been avid runners for years. They have run several marathons and ultramarathons together. That has been one of the toughest trials during the cancer treatments – the change in their active lifestyles, said Marc Sanderson. But, they both have plans to get back to it as soon as they can.

The Sandersons have four sons, one daughter and three granddaughters. “They bring the happiness to our days,” Jessica said.