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 From tears of mourning to tears of triumph and moments of
unbridled happiness and laughter, all the feelings are real, and
they are all a part of the event.
This year over 350 people experienced those moments together Friday
evening as they spent the night walking in relay to raise money for
the American Cancer Society.
The walk this year was to be on the track at Lincoln College,
but threats of inclement weather brought the walk inside to the
gymnasium of the new Lincoln Center on the campus of Lincoln
College.
Inside the gym, campsites were set up by each team of walkers. In
true relay style, some of the team was on the track all the time. Team
members switch in and out so that everyone gets a little sit-down
time.
The campsites were decorated to go along with the theme of the walk
this year: "Fighting cancer around the world."
In addition to being resting spots for team members, most
were also still engaged in fundraising. Around the room there were
small raffles going on as well as bake sales and sales of beverages.
The back wall of the gym was lined with a huge assortment of items
for a silent auction, and just outside the gym doors, Mike Maske of
Maske Auction Service conducted a live auction with some very nice
larger-ticket items up for grabs.
There were so many luminarias -- candles to remember a loved one
stricken with cancer -- one couldn't even begin to count them all, and
more were being sold throughout the evening as folks arrived.
Survivors were given medals and anniversary pins that they wore as
they did their survivor laps at the beginning of the walk. Seeing a
sea of faces, recognizing several, and noticing that in the group
there are children, young men and women, middle-age folks, and
seniors, all sharing a common thread of survival, is too moving to put
into words.
Putting on a relay is a massive job, but for this years co-chairs,
Jeff and Maritta Robinson, it is well worth it. Throughout the
evening both were quite busy along with several of their committee
members, keeping everything running along.
Jeff did take a moment, though, to talk about the relay. "It's all
about giving cancer victims one more birthday," he said.
The Robinsons are serving as co-chairs this year for the first time,
though they have been involved with Relay for Life for several
years. Robinson noted that wife Maritta is a survivor, and that gives
the effort greater importance.
Robinson said that plans for this year's fundraising events began
about a month after the conclusion of last year's relay.
While the 12-hour walk is the highlight, the groups work throughout
the year raising money and awareness.
Robinson said that many of the teams stay intact year after year,
and they begin very early with raising money.
This year he said there are three top teams, but the fact is they
have all done a tremendous job and are all very close in the amount
of dollars they have raised for the American Cancer Society.
Among the top three is Peggy's Place's Bahama Mama's. DeLynn White is
the captain of that team. She explained that the team's fundraising
efforts began several months ago. They had a fundraiser at Logan
Lanes, sold luminarias, had another fundraiser at Kroger and
received some nice donations from the Saint-Gobain glass factory and
from Treu Body Works. The team's goal for this year was $1,500,
but that number has been far exceeded.
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Other top teams are Purple Upendo, whose captain is Michelle Dahn,
and the Northwest Wildcat Walkers, with captain Tamara Dietrich.
Robinson said that even though he and his wife are the co-chairs, a
lot of credit goes to the tremendous committee they have had working
with them.
The goal for this year is to raise $85,000 for the American
Cancer Society. Robinson said that fundraising efforts will continue
after the relay, and he is very optimistic that the goal will be
reached.
The money raised goes to cancer research, but it also goes toward
other programs that have an impact on the lives of those battling
cancer.
The American Cancer Society can assist with transportation to
doctors' appointments and treatments, and provides items such as
wigs for those who can't otherwise afford them.
In addition, the society offers some programs that Robinson referred
to as "feel-good" projects. He cited one in particular, where
patients are given a kind of spa day, when they are pampered with
skin treatments, facials, makeup, nails and more.
For someone who is battling cancer, such things can mean a lot.
Cancer is a devastating disease that takes its toll on the inside of
the body and on the outside.
The American Cancer Society realizes that half the battle is
attitude, and helping fighters to feel better about themselves will
in the end help them become survivors.
Robinson also noted that the money used for research is making a
difference. He explained that medications are being used today that
didn't even exist five years ago, and they are proving to be effective
in destroying cancer cells.
To learn more about the American Cancer Society, visit
http://www.cancer.org/. There is also a Relay for Life website for Logan
County,
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=30745&pg=entry, where
you can become part of a new project the group is working on: a fundraising
cookbook.
[By NILA SMITH]
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