 The primary goal of the annual event is to raise funds for the
American Cancer Society. This year's event was in the parking lot of
Lincoln College's Lincoln Center and offered an evening of
activities beginning Friday and ending Saturday morning.
The Relay also provides time for folks to reunite over a common
cause, remember those who are gone, uphold those who are fighting
now and thank those who support them.
This year's master of ceremonies was Steve Sauer. He opened the
evening by welcoming everyone in attendance and sharing some of the
history of the American Cancer Society and the Relay For Life.
The American Cancer Society is celebrating 100 years this year.
When it was formed in 1913, the word cancer was rarely spoken aloud.
It was a disease that few understood, and even fewer survived.
One hundred years later, it is still a devastating disease. It
fills the mind with horror and the heart with fear when the words
are spoken aloud in a diagnosis. But, in those 100 years, progress
has been made to stop the devastation. A disease once called
incurable is now being survived by many. Today 2 out of 3 people who
are diagnosed become survivor statistics.
The American Cancer Society is contributing daily to the search
for a real cure, but the work goes beyond that. The organization
is actively involved in promoting prevention and also offers support
to those who are battling to win the fight of their life.
In 1985, a doctor in Tacoma, Wash., decided to raise awareness
and money for the American Cancer Society by walking nonstop for 24
hours. He raised the funds by collecting pledges from friends and
family who would honor the pledges if he completed his task.
Dr. Gordy Klatt took to the track at Baker Stadium at the
University of Puget Sound and in 24 hours reached his goal: walking
and running a total of 83 miles. As he completed his mission, he
thought of what would happen if many, many people were to do the
same thing. They could form teams and take turns walking, all in the
hopes of raising awareness and money for the American Cancer
Society.
One year later, the first Relay For Life walk took place with 19
teams raising money for the American Cancer Society.
In the past 28 years, over 5,200 relay events have taken place,
raising more than $4.5 billion for cancer research and support.
The Logan County Relay is 16 years young. It was formed in 1998,
and many of the people who were there for the first event were still
there for the one Friday night and Saturday morning.
After Sauer delivered some history, the opening prayer was
delivered by Pastor Robert Long, who is also a cancer survivor.
The American Legion Post 263 color guard was on hand to do the
presentation of colors while Lincoln native Debbie Ross sang the
national anthem.
The co-chairs for this year's event -- Amy Weidhuner, Nicole Lee
and Tabitha Weidhuner -- offered some opening remarks.
As the three young women completed their comments, they ended
their time onstage by doing a remarkable thing. Nicole Lee shared
that in honor of the night, she was going to ask her two companions
on stage to cut her long, brown hair. The hair would then be donated
to Locks of Love, an organization that provides wigs and hairpieces
to children suffering any type of disease that results in hair loss.
All three of these young women are cancer survivors, so this was
an emotional event for all of them, as well as for many in the
audience. As first one of her co-chairs took the scissors, and then
the next, one snip at a time they cut Lee's hair right at her
neckline while a tearful audience watched and finally boomed with
cheers and applause when the "tail," which was more than a foot
long, was shown to the group.
Next came the introduction of the honorary co-chairs for this
year: Robin Ingram and Bill Post. They led the survivors lap while
Penny McIntosh sang a contemporary version of "This Little Light of
Mine."
As the survivors passed through the red inflatable starting line,
they were handed carnations. Many walked hand in hand, with more
than a few tears, but also hundreds of smiles for each other and
those on the sidelines who cheered them on.
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Sheralyn Bolton was the soloist for the second lap, honoring
caregivers. This lap honored those who have offered front-line
support for cancer fighters. The caregivers joined their survivors
on the track while Bolton sang Amy Grant's "I Will Be Your Friend"
and "You've Got a Friend," accompanied by Michael Gowin on the
guitar.
The third special lap this year was a new one for the Logan
County Relay For Life: a kids lap for all children ages 10 and
under. As several little ones took to the track, guest soloist
Laurin Hill sang "Everything Is Beautiful."
The next lap was the team lap, with each team introduced and
taking to the track while Sauer read brief comments about each team.
The final early lap was the everyone lap, when everyone on the
grounds was supposed to take one lap around the track. During this
lap, Bolton delivered the "fight back" message. In her message she
reminded the group that today 2 out of 3 victims of cancer become
survivors of cancer, but that is still not good enough. She said
that they as a group should continue to work, continue to fight
until 3 out of 3 victims are survivors.
The rest of the evening, team members would take turns so that at
least one or two members of each team were walking all night long.
In addition to walking, plenty of other activities were going on.
There was a silent auction on one side of the track, and Mike Maske
of Mike Maske Auction Service in Mount Pulaski did a live auction of
several nice items donated by individuals and local
businesses.
Special music continued through the night, with professional
singer and cancer survivor Monica Hay offering some lovely vocals.
The TRASH band from Lincoln Christian Church also took to the stage,
delighting folks with music that was performed on a variety of items
that many would have called "trash" for sure.
There was also a square dance called by Ron Betzelberger, line
dancing with Suzanne Gowin, fun dances -- YMCA, chicken dance, hula
hoop and cha-cha -- a limbo contest and jump-rope contest, and Zumba
with Janell Woolard.
At 9 p.m. was the "Introit for Survivors," with bagpipe player
Jim Turley, which was followed by the reading of luminaria names by
Post during the luminaria lap
From midnight to 3 a.m. Chris Ramlow served as the DJ for the
night and kept the group awake with great music.
As the hours began to wane, less strenuous activities became
popular, such as bingo and a scavenger hunt.
As the dawn started to peek over Lincoln, many of the team tents
were gone, the luminarias had been collected, and the parking lot at
the Lincoln Center looked much as it had on Friday morning, save for
a few dedicated souls who stayed out walking in the circle that had
once been the track.
At 5 a.m. the group enjoyed coffee and doughnuts, then moved on
to the last order of business: the final prayer and balloon launch.
Balloons were handed out to each person present. There was a
prayer, and each person was given the opportunity to say something
on their own behalf or for someone they love. As heavy, gray clouds
cloaked the morning skies, a few small drops of rain fell on those
in prayer, as though perhaps God was touched by what he was seeing
in his people. Then, in total silence, the balloons were released
and drifted upward to the heavens.
And with that, this year's Relay For Life came to an end.
As of Saturday morning the official results of this year's
fundraising efforts had not been released. However, all who were
involved in the committee for this year's event were confident that
this year, the Logan County Relay For Life will exceed a lifetime
total of over $1 million. To reach this amount in just 16 short
years is an admirable accomplishment, no doubt.
[By NILA SMITH]
Relay For Life of Logan County
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