Survivors Walk
Promoting
Triumphs ...
Story
& Photos
By
Karen Clem Fritz
The glow emanating from the cancer survivors who
gathered for a group photo at last Friday’s Relay for Life
came not so much from the neon-orange t-shirts they were wearing
as from the triumph of holding this dreaded disease at bay - and
in many cases defeating it.
Pulaski County’s eighth annual Relay in the
Winamac park raised more than $64,717 - and counting - in funds
raised for American Cancer Society programs. (More donations have
been collected, and the cut-off is Aug. 31 for the 2005 Relay.)
The
local Relay remains an impressive event, and continues to attract
attention from neighboring counties and the state. Last year’s
event raised a record amount, totaling $88,484. In 1998, the first
year Pulaski County held its own Relay (instead of participating
with neighboring counties), $17,000 was collected.
For whatever reasons, it’s true that numbers
were down for this year’s Relay in terms of funds raised
and participants. But the event still attracted 40 teams and an
undiminished number of sponsors. They were joined by vendors whose
profits were donated to the cause, and hundreds of visitors who
came to lend their support. Pulaski County continues to stand
near the top, as recognized by the ACS (American Cancer Society),
for the most money generated per capita in the nation.
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Cancer
survivors attending Relay gather for a group photo
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And the energy and dedication of the local organizers
and the participants - those who are seasoned veterans and those
who are newcomers - remains boundless.
“We are grateful for the community support,”
says Relay co-chairman Jean Scheidenhelm of Winamac. “This
generosity helps the effort to try to find cures for all types
of cancer.”
The local Relay for Life provides a poignant opportunity
for families and friends to remember loved ones lost to cancer.
They also gather to celebrate the triumphs of cancer survivors,
and to fight this disease that affects everyone, either personally
or through family and friends.
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Alyssa
Braun, Morgan Haring, Abby Haring and Amber Schladenhauffen
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Suzanne
Hollis
and Sarah Miller
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As always, the fund-raising activities and planning
of hundreds of county residents who worked weeks and months before
- and then during the Relay - was astounding.
The Relay itself is the American Cancer Society’s
signature fund raising event and consists of a 12- or 24-hour
period in which several teams of at least eight members per team
collect donations to sponsor their walk. The ACS reports there
are 3,000 Relays held across the nation.
Pulaski
County’s Relay ran for 12 hours beginning at 12 noon last
Friday. The afternoon was spent visiting and playing games. By
the time of the opening ceremony at 6 p.m., the park was crowded
with people of all ages already completing laps on the park’s
walking trail.
At nightfall came the lighting of 940 luminarias,
sold prior to the Relay for $5 each. Each hand-decorated luminaria
paper bag was dedicated to a survivor of cancer or to a loved
one who has passed away from the disease.
The bags were placed along the walking trail. As
they strolled along the trail, participants read the messages
on the paper sacks. It is impossible not to be emotionally moved
by how many friends and neighbors have struggled with this dreaded
disease.
At 9 p.m. the walking and talking came to a halt
as team members stepped aside to observe the Survivors Walk. Those
who have survived the disease walked together, candles in hand,
while onlookers cheered their triumphs.
Co-chairpersons of the local Relay are Chris Smith,
and Mrs. Scheidenhelm, both cancer survivors. They are assisted
by 17 committee members.
The 2005 Relay used a 1960s theme with music and
costumes from the decade.
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4-H
Junior Leaders fill luminarias with sand
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...
and place along trail
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