It was an emotional yet positive night as approximately 35 people attended the Feb. 23 kick off event at Kalloway’s Restaurant and Pub for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
Oxford’s first-ever Relay for Life is being planned for May 14-15 at the new Oxford High School track.
‘I’m hoping you will spread the word thoughout your schools, throughout the community, throughout your churches,? said Melissa Flanagan, a member of the planning committee for Oxford’s Relay for Life. ‘We need as many people to get involved with this as possible.?
The Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature event, dedicated to increasing awareness and raising funds to fight cancer.
The way it works is simple ? teams of families, friends, co-workers, church members, even strangers camp out for 24 hours and take turns walking along Oxford’s quarter-mile track. Each team is required to have a representative on the track at all times ? a reminder that cancer never sleeps.
So far, 17 teams have signed up to participate in Oxford’s relay, according to Flanagan.
To help rally the troops, Pat Fitchena, Oxford Township trustee and breast cancer survivor, spoke about her struggle against the disease, her family’s experiences with cancer and the importance of the Relay for Life.
After her breast cancer was discovered through a self-examination in January 2000, Fitchena underwent a masectomy, two rounds of chemotheraphy and 39 radiation treatments.
Despite her ‘rough journey,? Fichena told the crowd, ‘Cancer is not the end of the world. For five years, I’ve been cancer-free. It can be beaten.?
Fitchena talked about how cancer has touched her family over the years. She noted her father died of colon cancer while her sister’s life was taken by pancreatic cancer.
At the time she began her radiation treatments, Fitchena said her husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
‘I think we’ve had our fill,? she said. ‘But we’ve been blessed, both of us. My husband and I have not had a recurrence of cancer and are doing fine.?
With regard to the Relay for Life, Fitchena pledged to ‘do whatever I can to help.?
‘Without the (American) Cancer Society and all the friends, family and people supporting the search for a cure, us survivors wouldn’t be here,? said Fitchena, adding she will be proud to once again walk in the ‘Cancer Survivor’s Victory Lap? during the Relay for Life.
Relay for Life planning committee member Flanagan told the crowd she became involved in the event last year when she helped to organize Clear Lake Elementary’s team. She’s a fourth-grade teacher at the Oxford school.
‘We came together as a team ? not just as a school, but as a family, as a community,? Flanagan said. ‘It was absolutely the most awesome thing I’ve ever been involved with.?
Flanagan’s motivation to help organize Oxford’s first Relay for Life comes from her grandmother’s death from liver cancer and the November 2004 cancer-related death of former student and family friend Michael Magdaleno, who was only 13 when he lost his battle.
‘We’re very compelled to help fight this horrible disease,? Flanagan told the crowd.
The next informational meeting regarding Oxford’s Relay for Life is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 16 at the Oxford Public Library. For more information contact Jennifer Schulte of the American Cancer Society at (248) 483-4304.
Connie Miller contributed greatly to this story.