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2006 Pulaski County
Relay for Life

Survivors Walk
Building Hope ...

Story & Photos
By Elizabeth Fritz

What do you hope for?

For the cancer survivors at the local Relay for Life last Saturday night, it is to find a cure for this disease
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While watching the surrounding activities as Relay participants walked the trail in the Winamac park, cancer survivors - and those who are battling the disease - realized there is a reason to have hope.

Karen Utes, director of PMH Hospice, presides at the Memorial Butterfly release.

From observing the white Relay shirts worn by supporters and the purple shirts worn by survivors, it was soon understood that Pulaski County’s Relay remains an outstanding event.

The ninth annual Pulaski County Relay raised a total of $58,807 and more funds are still coming in. The cut-off date for money raised for the 2006 Relay is Aug. 31.

This year’s attractions at the local Relay ranged from karaoke, to “Goat Bingo,” plus Winamac native Kevin Nowak who recited a poem from his own collection. As participants walked the path, they read signs along the trail citing quick facts about how to prevent cancer and who is at the highest risk of cancer.

Donations and participation in the past two years of the Relay have been down since the peak 2004 year, when $88,484 was raised. Last year’s Relay had 40 teams and raised $64,717. This year’s Relay had 23 teams participating.

Some criticize that most local Relay donations do not remain in Pulaski County, but the truth is anyone diagnosed with cancer today - whether in Pulaski County or New York City - has better options for treatment and survival thanks to Relay funds raised across the country.

Cancer survivors attending Relay gather for their 2006 group photo

Even though the teams were down this year, the sponsors of the Relay still came out strong with their donations. Along with the sponsors, vendors were present, donating their earnings to the fundraising event.

The volunteerism that every person puts into this event has brought recognition to the community. Some volunteers are cancer survivors, while others are kids, families and friends wanting to be involved.

Suzanne Hollis and Sarah Miller perform during the butterfly release.

The annual Relay is an opportunity this community always looks forward to. Each year new families are involved, touched by their own personal battles with cancer. The Relay for Life is a moment where the community can help those fighting cancer, can praise the survivors, and remember the ones we have lost.

The Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s main fundraising event. The purpose is for communities to gather and put on a 12- or 24-hour event that is held at a local school, park or fairgrounds. The goal of the Relay is to show that cancer never stops, so the walking must never stop either.

This year’s Pulaski County Relay was a 12-hour afternoon-through-evening event held on a Saturday, instead of an evening-through-overnight event on a Friday as in years past.

At 6 o’clock in the evening the welcome ceremony was held and the parade of teams with their flags were introduced. An hour later, a Memorial Butterfly Release was sponsored by Pulaski Memorial Hospice, with director Karen Utes opening the box of butterflies.
A live auction followed of donated treasures. Brad Zellers’ lighted hutch, which sold for $675, was the top item sold.

When the sun started to set, the luminaries were lit and the supporters lined the walking path, hand-in-hand, as the cancer patients made their Survivors Walk. While the survivors made their way around the path, they were greeted by cheers and encouragement.

This year 802 luminaries were sold for $5 each before and during the Relay. Those driving to the park at night and looking down to see the walking trail lit with luminaries could feel the magic of the Relay event.

Co-chairpersons of the local Relay were Chris Smith, and Jean Scheidenhelm, both cancer survivors. They are assisted by 16 committee members.

The 2006 Relay for Life centered on the theme of “Building Hope.”

Local Relay participants autographed the “Hope” banner