Relay Record is astounding

$184,530.91” even with a rainstorm

By DONNA HICKMAN
Daily Journal Staff Writer

There were two Relays For Life in St. Francois County Friday — the one before the rain, and the one after the rain. Together, the two halves brought in $184,530.91  for the American Cancer Society. That’s a record for St. Francois County and far surpasses the goal of $175,000.

“I really think if the weather had been better, we might have made much more,” said Carolyn Tyler, chairman. “It’s the support of so many people in St. Francois County that makes the Relay a success every year.”

Knowing there was a downpour in the forecast, organizers moved the event from a grassy area in front of Mineral Area College to a parking lot not far away. The track was smaller and so the 50 teams that set up campsites were close together. It gave the event a cozy feeling.

About 170 cancer survivors registered for the Relay. Al Thurman survived lung cancer.

“I’m five months off chemo and when I was here last year, I was in a wheel chair,” he said. “This year, I’m walking the track. This is a fight I’m gonna win.”

Jess Boyer wore the purple shirt of a survivor along with his daughter.

“I was 7 when I was diagnosed with cancer 23 years ago,” said Donna Boyer.

“I had cancer in 2003,” said Jess.

Scott Forsythe led a team to honor the memory of  his late wife, Robin, who was at the Relay last year.

“This year, we have NHC’s Rockin’ Robins and it’s our first year, but we wanted to raise money for a cure,” he said.

Charles and Robin Pace led a team for their daughter Madelyn. She would have been 7 this year. The little girl died four years ago of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. They said being part of the Relay helps them cope with their loss and helps them know they are helping others.

Handy Heroes had a line for pulled pork and brats as teams worked to raise as much money as they could.

The Pink Ladies team sold — what else — pink lemonade.

Opening ceremonies featured the Mike Dealy Spirit Award given to Dale and Arlene Jones and their children, Emily, Corey and Bradley, who have made the luminaria to line the track for the last seven years.

“It’s not just us,” said Arlene. “We have family, friends, neighbors and even strangers who help us.”

MAC Arts and Sciences Dean and Cancer Survivor Kay Crecelius paid tribute to those at the college touched by cancer.

“Right now in our MAC family we have two people whose cancer has recurred and they are fighting for their lives,” she said. “In the last year, we have lost two of our beloved faculty, Carol Moore and Bob Sechrest. We want you to walk. We want you to hope . We want you to keep praying. And one day we won’t have to have an event like this.”    There was a tribute to Joe Crump who was a faithful member of the Probation and Parole Slammers Team. Crump died in a motorcycle crash as he was taking part in a fundraising Poker Run. His friend Alan Wells slowly rode a motorcycle around the track as a law enforcement color guard followed close behind. Crump’s brother Cliff accepted a plaque from Tyler in honor of Joe.

Survivors tell their stories

Then, the survivors lined up to tell their stories.

Aaron Phillips, 14, Survivor 1 year, 1 month.

George Harris, 1 year, lung cancer and his wife Nancy, 4 years, skin cancer.

Mary Spivey said, “I found out I had breast cancer on my birthday! I’ve been a survivor for three months.” Her daughter Michelle is another survivor.

Then, every survivor lined up behind a big, purple banner to walk the first lap around the track to the tune, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

Beth Harrington walked with her grandson, Gage Grounds.

Breast Cancer Survivor Glenda Straughn said, “This is all about me! It’s all about God! It’s great to see all the survivors here tonight.”

Katie Dickerson walked with her son Tyler, her miracle boy.

“I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and he was born in January of this year,” she said. “It’s really great to be here and be around so many positive people.”

Lorraine Rector attended her second relay since her own bout with breast cancer in 2000.

“You learn to treasure every moment you have,” said Rector. “Life isn’t as long as you think it is.”

Why they walk

After the survivors’ lap, team members began to walk. Angie Springer walked the track with two big purple hands that bore the word, “Hope.” She walked for her mother, Pat Walter who died of cancer.

“I remember how she did not give up. She kept fighting until her last breath,” she said.

Katie Schwent literally walked in the shoes of her daughter, Myranda Starkey, who had once worn them to the Relay. There’s been a team at the Relay in Myranda’s memory since before her death in 2004.

The rain comes

Just as the sun was going down, organizers heard there was a storm headed the way of the Relay and told those on the track to get ready. Many took the opportunity to pack up and go home before the rain came.

Luminaria were lit in honor of those who fought cancer. But, the candles didn’t stay lit long.

By 10 p.m., thunder and lightning heralded the start of a storm that brought a downpour. Teams scrambled to their tents. Sound systems and microphones were turned off. The Relay was silent, except for the sounds of the thunder and rain. It was that way for a while. As the lightning subsided, the team members headed outside, walking in the rain wearing panchos and carrying umbrellas.

Jan Trober, from the Marvinettes team, wore a purple raincoat to walk 87 times around the track by 2:30 a.m.

“I was not only doing this for those on my team that can not walk too far, but also in honor of my sister Ruth who has leukemia and in honor of my sister-in-law that is fighting liver cancer,” she said.  When she called to tell her dad how many laps she’d made, he donated another $87 to her team.

The Save A Lot, Save A Life team had brought panchos to sell for a dollar. They did a booming business.

The fun begins

Just before midnight, the rain subsided, the music was turned back on and the fun began.

“When it started to rain, Mark (Toti) said ‘we are going to lose about a thousand people,’” said Charlie Berry, whose Music Unlimited provided the music for the night. “Well, I think we lost 900, and the 100 left are just a little bit crazy!”

Theme laps brought out walkers in headgear, formal wear and partnered with siblings. There was a marshmallow stuffing contest and a hula hoop competition. Just before 2 a.m. Saturday, a Fight Back ceremony gave walkers the chance to take flags that represent every person who will be diagnosed in St. Francois County with cancer next year. They walked with a flag to show their commitment to fight cancer all year long.

At 6 a.m. Saturday,  closing ceremonies featured the announcement of the event’s winners.

Thelma McFalls of the License to Cut Cancer Team raised the most money as an individual. She brought in $8,235.

“I wrote a letter to the C.E. O. of the company where I’d worked for 50 years,” she said. “I asked for a donation and they sent me $5,000! The rest I got from friends and family.”

The top fundraising team was Save A Lot, Save A Life with $24,359. The License to Cut Cancer brought in $20,300 through bake sales, yard sales, barbecues, and a golf tournament. Both were Diamond Teams because they raised more than $20,000. Save A Lot was the first Diamond Team last year. The Best Decorated Campsite was “Surf’s Up, Cancer’s Out.”

The Team Energizer Award and Top Online Fundraiser Team was Sta-Puft Pride.

Dave Bahr will chair the 2009 Relay For Life that is traditionally held on the last Friday in July.

For more Relay pictures, go to www.dailyjournalonline.com and click on the Relay in the photo gallery section.

Donna Hickman is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact her at 431-2010, ext. 138 or at dhickman@dailyjournalonline.com.

Archives Web Site Marketplace Obits Babies Jobs