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 For the second year in a row, the event began with
a ribbon cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. LDN’s own Nila Smith welcomed
everyone as she said, “We are here today pay attention to the relay
teams and to honor those who are survivors and remember those who
have gone on to a greater victory, but we couldn’t do that without
our team organizers.”
Smith then introduced event organizers Cyra Buttell, Kristy
Weidhuner, Melissa Thomas, and the American Cancer Society’s Janelle
Jennings, who works out of Springfield and helps support Logan
County. Also on hand for the ribbon cutting were Logan County Fair
Queen Molly Schempp, Junior Miss Julia Collins, Little Miss Kylee
Fulk and Lincoln Mayor Seth Goodman.
Honorary Chairpersons Ruth Gordon and ‘In Memoriam’ Honorary Chair
the late Dale Lessen, represented by his widow Sarah Lessen, cut the
ribbon to begin the relay.
Once the ribbon was cut, Julia Collins performed the National Anthem
and a Color Guard presented the flags, followed by a prayer by Bill
Post asking God to be with those affected by cancer and praying a
cure would be found soon and that we can knock cancer in the head
for everyone.
Cameron Kurtz returned this year as the Master of Ceremonies
welcoming everyone to the 2019 relay with the theme “Cancer: not
here, not there, not anywhere,” which is modeled from the writings
of famous children’s book author Dr. Seuss. Kurtz said Dr. Seuss is
a philosopher in many ways because of what was in his books. Each
lap was connected to a theme from one of Seuss’ many books.
Kurtz said no matter where you live, you will find people directly
or indirectly affected by cancer in some way, shape, or form, but
today, “We celebrate the survivors, lift up those who have gone on
to a greater victory, but today is not about mourning those losses.
Today is about celebrating those survivors, lifting up those hopes
and those spirits as we raise money to end cancer and to finally put
it behind us once and for all.”
Logan County has been hosting a Relay for Life for over 34 years and
joining forces with millions or others who want to save lives,
finish the fight and make a difference in the fight against cancer.
The money people raise for making the laps around the track enables
the American Cancer Society to help save lives, support the American
Cancer Society’s programs, find causes and cures through research
and provide screenings for cancer.
Kurtz thanked everyone for the fundraising efforts and said, “You
are the American Cancer Society and you are what we relay for.”
The event organizers each spoke briefly. Buttell has been
participating in the relay for eight years since losing her mother
to cancer. Buttell said she often wonders if she is doing enough to
help but found a quote from Dr. Seuss that is just right, “To the
world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the
world.”
Quoting more of Dr. Seuss, Thomas said, “Unless someone like you
cares a whole awful lot, nothing’s going to get better, it’s not.”
And then noted we need to try to put an end to cancer once and for
all.
Weidhuner thanked all the organizers and event leadership team for
the hard work that helped make the event possible and said, “Alone
we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
After the official introduction of the honorary chairs, Gordon and
members of Dale Lessen’s family shared their stories before leading
off the survivor’s lap, which is the first lap of the day.
Gordon said five years ago she discovered an “odd patch” on her arm
which turned out to be melanoma. She had surgery, but required no
other treatments. More recently, Gordon was diagnosed with ovarian
cancer and had surgery, then chemotherapy. She will eventually have
thyroid surgery for a nodule on her thyroid.
Gordon has two sisters and she said one spent the first night with
her at the hospital and the other sister convinced her to have the
spot on her arm checked. The sister who wanted Gordon to get the
spot checked shares a birthday with her and was also recently
diagnosed with cancer.
The prayers of many friends and family have made a difference, and
Gordon said she is blessed that God has been so good. Quoting Dr.
Seuss, Gordon said, “Oh, the places you’ll go,” and connected with
such as the hospital, appointments, relay events, church and
spending time with friends.
Speaking for the family of Dale Lessen was his sister Susan Gelbach.
Gelbach said Lessen sponsored the relay for many years and had been
a member of the Angels all around team since the team started in
1996. Their mother had cancer and died in 2003.
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Gelbach said her brother Dale collapsed while working
in the field this past April. He was given CPR and sent to ALMH then
transferred to Memorial. Lessen had suffered a brain aneurysm and
sadly did not survive. He donated several organs. Gelbach thanked
everyone for supporting the relay.
The survivor’s lap included many from around Logan
County who have survived cancer and as the lap started each survivor
was given a carnation donated by Bee’s Floral and Landscaping,
Debbie’s Downtown Floral and Forget Me Not Floral. This lap was
followed by the caregiver’s lap, and Kurtz said they are often
guardian angels for those they care for.
Kurtz introduced this year's teams as they took their first laps.
The teams were:
Angels All Around
Dana’s Team
Ethel’s Angels
Emblem Angels
Faith, Hope, and Love
Friends Walking for a Cure
Friends & Family Relay Team
Gail’s Pumpkin Patch
Jigglers
Lincoln CEFCU
Oh the Places You’ll Go
Purpose Driven People
St. John’s UCC Remembers
Super Papa’s Team
Team CUREage
Team Kayla
The Rack Pack
Tictacs
Each of these teams had personal connections to cancer and some had
a survivor walking with them or were walking in memory of a loved
one lost to cancer.
At 2 p.m. the Praise Handmade group performed. Started by Angela
Rogers many years ago, Praise Handmade is a ministry of Jefferson
Street Christian Church that includes members of other area
churches. As Christian music plays, the group does sign language as
a way of worship. They began with “Every Breath a Gift from God” and
followed it with several other songs.
Before the song “Shoulders” the Rogers daughter Rebecca shared a
story of growing up in Africa with her missionary parents and
recalling her dad Phil supporting her on his shoulders. Years later,
as her father was diagnosed with a progressive neurological disease,
Huntington’s, Rebecca became one of his caregivers supporting him
through his illness.
The Roger’s family has also been personally affected by cancer as
Angela Roger’s mother Patsy Wilson died from cancer in November
2015. Patsy Wilson used to participate in the survivor’s lap of the
relay.
The theme from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. was “How the Grinch Stole
Christmas,” and several people donned Christmas outfits as they
walked around the track to Christmas music. Walkers were given pipe
cleaners and received red beads each lap so they could create a
candy cane.
At 4 p.m. the Daughters of the King, a group of young girls from
Open Arms Christian Fellowship performed.
For laps representing various Dr. Seuss books, participants were
asked to dress in something reminding them of dad, wear a hat, dress
in animal prints, put on a wacky outfits or shoes, wear mismatched
socks and wear pajamas or a robe.
Other special events included a balloon relay for kids, games by
various teams, Zumba with Bethany Rademaker, a silent auction and a
live auction.
A buffet meal prepared by Lincoln College was also available to
purchase for $8, with the college donating the meal with proceeds
going to Relay for Life.
As the end of the evening drew near, the Luminary laps took place
with people walking in silence as Bill Post read aloud a long list
of the names on the luminaria remembrances.
The event ended at 11 with a balloon launch and closing prayer.
As co-chair Ruth Gordon said we do fundraisers like the Relay for
Life “so that in the future, cancer will be a place no one will go.”
[Angela Reiners] |
