Relay for Life celebrates life, raises money for cancer
The same could be said for their families and caregivers.
One night a year, cancer survivors are celebrated, honored, and just have a great time with caregivers, families, and folks who simply want to help.
The American Cancer Society 2017 Relay for Life will be held from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 20 at the parking lot behind The Cook Education Center at Navarro College.
There, teams will vie for being the one to raise the most money to fight cancer.
“The Survivors dinner will be held under a tent out where everything is happening, and will be a come and go thing, with a variety of food options,” said Ashley Hanna, co-chair. “It will also stay a hospitality tent for the survivors once the dinner is over.”
One way Survivors are honored every year is with the first lap, the Survivor’s Lap, where every person who has fought — or is currently battling — cancer joins together with others to make the lap. This year, they will start under a balloon archway, as Byron Haynie does an acoustic performance just for them.
“We will also have the Hands of Hope, where survivors put their hands in paint then place them on a sheet, which we will keep from year to year,” said Emily Lawhon, co-chair. “We will also have the lip sync game we had last year. Everyone loved that.”
Survivor invitations went out in the mail for those who were at Relay last year, but don’t wait for an invitation to register to be there. Visit the Relay website at ACSEvents.org, as all survivors are welcome and encourage to attend.
“If you have ever heard the word ‘cancer’ from a doctor, then you are a survivor,” Hanna said.
Relay, as it is called for short, is a big pep rally of sorts. It celebrates victory over cancer, as well as raising money for cancer research and treatment. But it has its serious moments too.
“We have a student who has been leading a team for several years,” Hanna said. “This year she volunteered to be in leadership, and Hannah Carlisle is heading up the Luminaria Ceremony, one of the most important parts of Relay, and it will be student-led.
“That’s pretty cool.”
The Luminaria ceremony happens after dark, and honors those who have passed on, as well as those who are still fighting, or have beat cancer. For a small fee, one can purchase bags to put a name on, which will be lit with a candle all along the track.
Hanna went on to say that it is hard to explain the experience of Relay to someone who has never been, but she has never had someone come who wished they hadn’t.
“The bonding experience, the emotion, of people who have walked through the same thing,” she said. “At Relay, it doesn’t matter what your cancer is or was, everyone is just united to fight cancer. It is a pep rally to encourage them in just the place where they are.”
The first year Lawhon came was about 10 years ago, when she choreographed a dance. She came out, performed the dance, and left, having no idea what was really going on in the bigger picture.
But when her mother got breast cancer, the meaning all changed.
“The first year Mom came, she couldn’t walk, and kept telling me she couldn’t walk,” Lawhon said. “But that was OK, because all she needed was to be there with other people in the same position as her.”
Also, new this year is a “Virtual Team,” for those who simply can not leave their homes, so they can also participate via a livestream.
“I didn’t realize it would be such an emotional experience,” Lawhon said.
Another new idea this year courtesy of Crystal Shepherd, herself a cancer survivor and an organizer/leader, is the presence of a blood bus. She contacted Carter Blood Care out of Waco, who was only too happy to provide a bloodmobile for the event.
“I did not know this, but 25 percent of Carter’s blood donations are used for cancer patients,” Hanna said. “Hopefully this will be a great partnership — hoping we put up some great numbers.”
John Paul Ross will serve as emcee for the night, and Lawhon is providing her semi-professional DJ skills to keep the music going all night long. Also appearing will be Camp Gladiator and the Corsicana Cloggers.
Community National Bank and Trust is the head sponsor of the Survivor Dinner/Hospitality Tent. If your business wishes to sponsor and have its name on the shirts, leave a message on the Navarro County Relay for Life Facebook page, www.facebook.com/RelayNavarro, or email relaynavarrocounty@yahoo.com.
“There will be a fundraiser Thursday, April 27 during the wine stroll downtown,” Hanna said. “The Wine Stroll will end at the Corsicana Opry, where Ryan Guidry will be playing a free concert, classic 70’s rock. All tips received that night will be matched by the Corsicana Cancer Center and donated to Relay for Life.”
The 2017 Relay Event Leadership team consists of Hanna, Lawhon, Amber Johnson, Donna Miller, Loyd Junkin, Pam Junkin, Michelle Ball, Crystal Shepherd, Sharon Thomas, Jennifer Hanna, Christie Bell, and Jennifer and Hannah Carlisle.
“A lot of the money for American Cancer Society goes to research, but many people in Navarro County are surviving thanks to a new medicine that was found by ACS research, such as Gleevec,” Hanna said.
The money also goes to train drivers for Road to Recovery, and the Reach to Recovery volunteer program through ACS, with the local volunteer being Sharon Ballard.
There is also a 24-hour hotline for questions, and nurses and medical personnel ready to give answers. The number is 1-800- 227-2345.
“That help number can also help people find rides for treatments, and you can call that number to register for Relay if you do not wish to do it on the website,” Hanna said.
“You may still be fighting, but come for the encouragement, and see those on the other side who are celebrating those cancer anniversaries.”
source: http://www.corsicanadailysun.com
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