Scooter Davis

On Tuesday afternoon, Scooter Davis was sitting outside, watching the clouds go by and thinking what a beautiful day it was.

“Tell people you love them while you can,” he said. “I was given this time to talk to people, thank people, tell people I love that I love them. I try to do it every day.”

Davis, a disc jokey at WBVR-FM The Beaver, was diagnosed with terminal metastatic carcinoma consistent with esophageal cancer. He survived esophageal cancer before, but on June 8, his doctor told him he has about 12 months to live.

“I had a few little cells that have gotten loose in my right shoulder, right ribs, left hip and a tumor in my stomach,” he said.

Yet Davis believes he is “the luckiest guy in the world.”

“Two young people have drowned and it’s over with. The doctor said I’ve got a little time. I’m going to make the most of it,” he said. “When the doctor tells you that you think, ‘OK, I’m going to start feeling bad quickly.’ Right now, praise the good Lord, I feel really good. The only thing I’ve lost is a little bit of strength in my body.”

Davis is very active in the community, including with St. Jude and the Bowling Green-Warren County Humane Society. For that reason, some southcentral Kentucky businesses and nonprofit organizations are participating in #ScooterMovement today. They are wearing purple in support of Davis.

“Lavender is the universal color for cancer, but purple is an easier color to wear,” said Lora Fisher, marketing and public relations coordinator at Hughes and Coleman, whose employees wore purple in June and wear it again today. The firm worked with Davis for several years on community projects, Fisher said.

“We knew the news when he first got diagnosed with cancer,” she said. “When we heard it returned and was terminal, we got very upset. We knew if anyone could get through this with a smile on his face it would be Scooter.”

Fisher said the firm has been blessed to work with him through the years.

“The things he does for the community is beyond measure. We wanted to share the love for Scooter and encourage those in the community to create random acts of kindness,” she said. “If people acted a little more like Scooter, it would be contagious. We want Scooter to see the impact he has made on us with everything he has done in the community. We want to show him love and we want him to know about it.”

When Davis first heard about the #ScooterMovement he felt “overwhelmed.”

“This whole journey for me has been moving. The response I have received, the outpouring of love and caring has been overwhelming for me,” he said. “I’m used to going out and doing things for other people. Sometimes I’m at a loss for words. It’s a wonderful community to live in.

“I’ve been at the station for 34 years,” he said. “When you get generations that have listened … I’m at a loss for words.” 

Fisher wants people to post pictures of themselves wearing purple on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #ScooterMovment, as well as do service for others.

“Do something for a stranger that day whether it’s buying Starbucks for a person in line or helping a person carry groceries to their car. No gesture is too small,” she said. “If you’re the recipient of those kindnesses we want you to post those as well. Let’s spread the good of the world and overcome the bad things happening.”

Charity Parrish, director of planning program development and communications at Community Action of Southern Kentucky, said the agency staff plan to wear purple.

“Scooter has always been really good to our agency in promoting things we are doing. We just wanted to show him our support,” she said. “I’ve been on his shows countless times talking about our services and fundraisers. He’s always asked for special guests on his Sunday shows. We’ve had guest on there as well.”

Parrish said Community Action employees are happy to do something to send Davis love.

“We have over 250 employees in 10 counties, so we hope we have a lot of purple.”

WRUS-AM in Russellville is also supporting the movement.

“WRUS and The Beaver used to be part of one big company, WRUS Inc. Scooter has always been a part of Russellville radio,” said Chris McGinnis, general manager. “I can’t remember a time I didn’t know Scooter.”

The radio station is promoting the movement on the air and on its Facebook page, encouraging people to wear purple at businesses, schools and organizations.

“This is for all he’s meant to southcentral Kentucky. We thought it was a way to encourage others to support him and show their love,” McGinnis said. “We hope that this is a springboard to lead to other folks taking the initiative to do things to honor him and uplift him in his battle with cancer.”

Davis’ wife, Tammy, has uplifted him.

“My wife has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Davis said. “She’s my watchdog, my angel. She’s just so wonderful.”

He’s still working every chance he gets.

“I try not to dwell on it and live my life. I have chemo once every three weeks if my platelet count is good,” he said. “I try to work as much as I can and get out as much as I can. If I was sitting around here, I’d be miserable.”

Besides, Davis has plans of riding his motorcycle.

“I’ll hit it head on just as long as I can. It’s so much fun to meet people and talk to people,” he said. “If you go out and meet people, the world would be a much better place.”

— Follow features reporter Alyssa Harvey on Twitter at twitter.com/bgdnfeatures or visit bgdailynews.com.