The annual Relay for Life event had so many survivors and so many
stories. Luminaries, two-wide, formed a circle within a circle, making a
lighted path for survivors, caregivers and loved ones to walk, to
remember and to hope.
Nearly 60 teams with 545 members joined together in friendly
fundraising competitions with a theme of “paint your world purple.”
Lancaster’s Relay for Life had collected $2,000 shy of $100,000 before
the big night. Onsite fundraising should easily push the effort past its
$143,000 goal.
The night began with the survivor’s lap. The parade of purple-clad survivors included people of all ages.
The sun set on the warm night, and the dark blue sky of night even
looked purple as people continued walking laps. The band Mister Pleaze
sang Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.”
Catherlean McIlwain spent a few minutes of silence on her knees next to one luminary among many.
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| Each survivor painted a section in what would become a tapestry of survival. |
From a distance all the luminaries look the same. But this one held
special meaning for her. Her daughter’s name, Latoya McIlwain Wright,
was handwritten in black, with the dates 1974-2010.
Until 2009, she and Latoya came to Relay together to celebrate her
daughter as a survivor. That year Latoya lost her fight. This was her
mother’s first trip back since 2009, and she came alone.
Tracing her daughter’s name with her finger on the luminary lantern,
McIlwain said she had wanted to come back before now, but had found it
too hard.
Hand in hand and smiling ear to ear, Mary and Frank Papp of Indian Land
walked around the luminary-lighted track in their first Lancaster Relay
for Life event.
Speaking at the same time, Frank said, “She’s my hero.” And Mary said, “He’s my caregiver.”
The Papps looked more like honeymooners than a couple about to
celebrate 43 years of marriage. They never let go of each other’s hands
while walking and sharing their story.
Mary is a breast cancer survivor. Her battle began in 1989 and returned
in 1996. In 2006 and 2009, the cancer returned in scar tissue left from
the mastectomy.
“They can’t give me anymore chemo or radiation, so I’m on my own and enjoying life every moment,” Papp said.
Cancer survivor Betty Still stopped by The Lancaster Woman’s Club tent to fill in a section of a paint-by-number canvas.
Still, a one-year survivor, said it was wonderful to see the outpouring
of community support. “I never realized how important this was until I
needed it myself.”
Lancaster native and five-year survivor Barbara Haile said, “Life is wonderful. God is good.”
Speaking through tears, Haile said, “This event is breathtaking. I have
to be here. I can’t explain it. My brother died three years ago of
pancreatic cancer, and my mother is a breast cancer survivor. I’m here
for them.”
First cousins Kristina Humphries and McKenzie Medlin knelt side by side
next to a luminary burning in honor of their grandmother, Gladys
Humphries, a breast-cancer survivor. She passed away last year at the
age of 73.
For 14 years, their grandmother attended Relay and celebrated as a survivor. This year she was with them in spirit.
First-year team Gold Hill AME Zion Church of Indian Land was enjoying the night and learning from the experience.
The Rev. Linda Hill said they might just raise the price of those ice
cold bottles of water next year. “We’ve been selling them for a
quarter!”
The veteran team Relay Rally Cats from Mane Street Hair Designers led the fundraising effort with more than $10,000 collected.
Their neighbor Team Dustin Carnes, a fifth-year team, was just dollars
behind. Everyone feels like a winner because all the money goes to fight
cancer.
Relay Rally Cats team captain Debbie Crenshaw, who has seen 21 Relays
come and go, said she was very pleased with the night. “More survivors
were here this year, and that’s wonderful because that is why we do
this.”
The first-year team of Jaxon’s Army marched on in honor of 6-year-old
Jaxon Ingram of Buford community, who was just diagnosed with leukemia
this past October. He was home recovering from a treatment earlier in
the day. John Blackmon, Jaxon’s uncle, said the team’s Army camouflage
and logo was inspired by Jaxon’s love of Army men.
Indian Land’s Harrisburg Elementary joined the Relay fight for the
first time this year. Team captain Lauren Thomas stood smiling in a
Wizard of Oz inspired tent with a banner proclaiming “There is no place
like hope.” Thomas said she was sure they would surpass their $5,000
goal.
Attending for the first time was Buford resident and four-year survivor
of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma Cecelia McAteer. She said her cancer had been
in remission for four years, but it just came back.
If you don’t fight it, you won’t be here long, she said.
“This kind of cancer is treatable, but not curable,” she said. McAteer
enjoyed the night and called the balloon guy over yelling, “I want a
purple one.”
She got that balloon. These are fighters, remember.
Contact Mandy Catoe (803) 283-1152 or mcatoe@thelancasternews.com
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