Relay for Life, a personal commitment

Earlene Ward

 

It is personal, very personal.

Relay For Life is a personal commitment for the committee members of this year’s American Cancer Society event. This is the fourth annual Relay in Eastern Madera County and many of the committee members have been involved since its beginning in 2000.

These local people give of their time and energies to make Relay a success in the Mountain Area because they believe in it deeply. Some are cancer survivors themselves, others have loved ones battling the disease at this time and still others have lost loved ones to cancer.

Several of the committee members participate in Relay in memory of a loved one.

Janice Ellis, this year’s event chair and sponsorship chair says, “I Relay in memory of my late husband, Don Ellis.” Logistics Chairman Keith Jacobs comments that there are several reasons why he Relays, “one being the memory of Becky Jacobs.” Earlene Ward, publicity chairman, says she Relays in memory of her father and her mother-in-law.

Others are involved in Relay because they are survivors.

Dannie Forbes says, “I have been involved with Relay for Life for four years, the first two on the Soroptimist team and the past year and this year on the committee as food chair. My reason is simple: This is my 22nd year as a cancer survivor.”

Billie Millard, who is in charge of survivors’ hospitality and registration, says, “I am a survivor! Relay For Life means a lot to me since I have been on chemo for two-and-one-half years, for the second time around. As of this writing, I am cancer free. I have met a lot of wonderful people at the cancer center; we share our experiences and give hope to one another.”

Lynette Schrank, team captain, meeting director, recruitment chair and fundraiser, has served as a team captain over the past years and last year became a part of the committee. “I myself am a survivor,” she says, “and have family members and friends who are fighting that battle.”

Many of the committee members Relay because their loved ones are survivors.

Gail Gilbert, outgoing chair, says, “The reason I Relay is my husband, Gary. Dr. Joseph Chudy diagnosed Gary’s prostate cancer five years ago. He is the youngest of six boys; four of them have had cancer. His dad died of cancer and his mom has cancer now. This is part of the genetic makeup our children have, and I’m working to find a cure so hopefully our kids never have to hear the words: ‘You have cancer’.”

Ruby Clark, who is in charge of the Relay Store and survivors, has many reasons to Relay. “My husband is a survivor, our daughter is a survivor, and I am also a survivor. My husband’s brother lost the battle as well as some dear friends. I want my kids, my grandkids and great grandchild to live in a cancer-free world.”

Jeannie Habben, who works on the luminaria, opening and closing ceremonies, says she is involved in Relay for the fourth year “because, like many, cancer has touched my life. My mother is a survivor and just one month ago I lost a friend to cancer, and I have two other dear friends who are fighting right now. This is my way of doing something so my mom remains a survivor and I don’t lose any more friends.”

“I have attended all of the Eastern Madera County Relays because my dear bride, Carol, has been touched by cancer,” says Bill Atwood, master of ceremonies. She had her tumor removed on June 27, 1993 and was given only a small chance of living out the year. We celebrate 10 years in June!” he says.

Some of the committee members have had many family members touched by cancer. Michelle Niewohner, who is in charge of entertainment this year, says, “My dad is a survivor of skin cancer. My aunt is a survivor of throat cancer. My cousin is a survivor of ovarian cancer. My husband’s aunt is a survivor of breast cancer and my father-in-law is in remission with leukemia. My husband’s grandmother died from thyroid cancer.”

Debbie Romero, who is in charge of games, prize patrol and cancer control activities, Relays to be “helping to find a cure for my daddy who is currently in treatment for cancer.”

Those who help put the Eastern Madera County Relay For Life together realize that everyone has been touched in one way or another by cancer. While they have very personal reasons for being involved, they are also working to help find a cure for cancer and to help all the people who are battling that disease.

Besides Relaying in memory of her husband, Mrs. Ellis says, “I Relay for all of the wonderful survivors I have met in our community, as well as those we have lost. I have the passion! We need to stomp out this awful disease so everyone can live in a cancer-free world.”

Dr. Chudy, founder of the EMC Relay, says he Relays “... because I care. As simple as this sounds, it is the motivation behind my involvement. As a member of this community, I have been on the diagnosing and treatment side of cancer. But more than that, I have seen myself as a support for the families and patients that I have been privileged to know.”

Relay is a family event for Linda and Chuck Heinbach. Linda is in charge of Kids Camp and she is a school staff partner. Chuck has served as logistics chair in the past. They have been on the Relay committee every year. “When you think about why some people get involved in an organization such as this, the realization is that so many people have been touched by cancer, either directly or indirectly,” Linda says. “Through the years our family, like so many others, has lost friends and family members to cancer and we have loved ones still battling it daily. Being involved in Relay gives the hope that we will someday see a cure.”

Mrs. Schrank says she continues to be involved in Relay each year “because I believe that by helping it will make a difference in the lives of others.”

Mrs. Niewohner not only Relays in honor of her family members who are cancer survivors but for everyone. “The reason that I Relay is that I do not know one single person that has not been touched by cancer in some way. Either they have it or had it or are related or are close to someone who has it or had it.” She believes in what Relay stands for. “I believe in the research and the services that are available to the patients. The only way we can fund the research and provide the services is to raise more money.”

Nancy Vaccaro, who works on accounting for Relay, has been associated with Relay since its beginning in Eastern Madera County. “After the first year I was hooked,” she says. “Cancer has touched my life in many ways; relatives and dear friends have either been taken or are fighting the war of cancer. My heart aches for them all, especially the children. I do Relay in hopes that we will win the war.”

Sherry Colgate works on luminaria and the opening and closing ceremonies for Relay. She says her reason for Relay “is strictly from my heart. It is to remember my loved ones who lost their battles with cancer and to honor their memory, knowing that this event will raise money for cancer research that could save the lives of someone else’s loved ones.”

Mr. Jacobs Relays in memory of Becky Jacobs and also for “the hope I see that it gives to those battling cancer as well as cancer survivors. I love being involved with a cause that shows there are people who love and care, and that we are pulling for a cure and for each person with cancer, and that we are praying for them as well!”

Dr. Atwood says he and Carol participate “because we want to give something back in the way of support to those fighting the battle at this time. Remember, that if you have cancer the research and medical treatments are the best they have ever been so now is the best chance in the history of mankind to be cured from this disease.”

Mrs. Ellis likes the support Relay offers. She remembers the first year Relay came to Eastern Madera County. “Gail Gilbert was co-chair,” she recalls. “It was her husband, Gary, who called my late husband, Don, and said ‘Relay For Life is coming to Eastern Madera County and you need to participate as a survivor.’ Around the same time Larry Vaccaro and Darlene Bramlett were also under treatment for cancer,” she says. “The three of them walked together at Relay like the ‘Three Musketeers’, with their bald heads as friends who shared the same issues. I myself was a walker. The second year I became a committee member and the rest is history. We can make a difference.”

Dr. Chudy, who chaired Relay the first two years in Eastern Madera County, says, “When I think of the good that Relay has brought to our community, I see the word ‘HOPE’ shining as a bright light. In 2001, I was so touched when the luminaria candle bags were arranged to spell out ‘HOPE’ then ‘CURE’ and back to ‘HOPE.’ It is the promise that Hope is real and that we are all here for one another that makes me feel a part of this community more than any other event. In this manner, I have received a great sense of support myself. I am very proud to be associated with the good people of our Relay For Life and the continued good work that they do. Length of time in Relay … four years and counting.”

The purpose of Relay For Life is to raise money for the American Cancer Society to continue its research for a cure for cancer and to continue to provide patient services and education.

Besides serving as committee members, the people who bring Relay to EMC also raise money to help the American Cancer Society.

Dr. Atwood knows the money is important. “I know that the research will cure this disease and it will only take $1 to do it. The last dollar. Since we do not know how many dollars it will take before the last one we must keep up the work until a cure is found. Who knows? Maybe the ‘final dollar’ is in the pocket of someone in Oakhurst.”

He challenges everyone to be involved in Relay: “Let’s work hard to do to cancer what happened to the dinosaurs —extinction.”

It is personal, very personal.