24 2015 RELAY FOR LIFE MAGAZINE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com June 23, 2015
Survivor Lap
Photos by Nila Smith
At 6 p.m., after the survivor dinner, it was time
for the most special lap of the day, the Survivor
Lap.
Before the lap began, honorary co-chairs for
this year’s event, Kathleen Brumbaugh and
Carolyn Motley, both cancer survivors, were
called to the stage by emcee Cameron Kurtz.
Kurtz read a statement on Motley’s behalf.
Brumbaugh told the audience about her
experience as she battled cancer. She was
first diagnosed with cancer in 2007. She
went through the “routine” treatments of
chemotherapy and radiation treatment that
were successful. She noted that during that
battle, she lost three days of her life every two
weeks to the common side effects of chemo. It
was a worthwhile sacrifice for the end results.
Recently, Brumbaugh was diagnosed with a
returning version of her previous cancer. The
breast cancer she fought in 2007 has returned
and metastasized to other parts of her body.
What is different this time, is the means by
which she is taking her treatment. For this
round, she is taking a daily pill with minimal
side effects.
She told the audience this pill is a fine example
of the research that Relay for Life dollars
supports and that eight years ago no such pill
was available.
While most cancers are still not considered to
be curable, many cancer victims are benefiting
from the work of the American Cancer Society
in creating better treatments with fewer side
effects and more long-term remissions.
Motley and Brumbaugh were the leaders of the
Survivor lap.
Each survivor was given a rose to celebrate
their victory over cancer regardless of what
stage of the fight they are in, everyone is a
survivor.
The flowers were donated by Three Roses
Floral, Kroger, and Forget Me Not Florists, and
handed out by some of the children who were
participating in this year’s event.
