Walk to raise money for a cure. Walk to honor survivors. Walk to encourage those still fighting. Walk to remember those who lost their battle.
There are many good reasons to walk in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and the organizers of Oxford’s first-ever relay event (May 14-15) hope you’ll find one.
The Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature event, dedicated to increasing awareness and raising funds to fight cancer.
A kick-off planning/informational meeting for Oxford’s 24-hour relay ? scheduled to take place on the outdoor track at Oxford High School ? will be held Wednesday, Feb. 23 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Kalloway’s Restaurant and Pub.
‘Anyone who is interested in forming a (relay) team should come,? said Melissa Flanagan, a Relay Planning Committee member and fourth-grade teacher at Clear Lake Elementary.
The way the relay works is simple ? teams of families, friends, co-workers and even strangers camp out for 24 hours, taking turns walking along Oxford’s ?-mile track. Each team is required to have a representative on the track at all times ? a reminder that cancer never sleeps.
Families, schools, local businesses, service groups, churches and caring individuals can organize teams. There’s no limit tothe number of members allowed on each team.
Flanagan helped organize her school’s relay team last year ? ‘The Clear Lake Believers? ? which she described as ‘massive? in size thanks to large number of families and high percentage of students who participated.
‘We believe through our efforts we can help find a cure,? she said explaining the team’s name.
The Relay for Life is especially significant and poignant for Clear Lake because one of the school’s former students, Michael Magdaleno, passed away Nov. 30, 2004 after a long battle with cancer, Flanagan said.
In addition to walking, relay teams are responsible for holding fund-raisers before, during and after the event to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s research and awareness efforts.
At last year’s first joint Orion-Oxford Relay for Life held at Lake Orion High School, 33 teams (about 700 walkers) participated and raised approximately $89,000, according to Flanagan.
‘It was a very, very successful event,? she said. ‘That was an outstanding amount for an inaugural event.?
The joint relay was so successful Flanagan said the American Cancer Society ‘felt Oxford is a large enough community and wonderful enough community to pull one off all by ourselves.?
‘Oxford has proven itself as a caring, compassionate and active community so I’m sure that this relay will be a success,? Flanagan said.
But Relay for Life isn’t just about raising money to fight cancer; it’s about honoring cancer survivors, those currently fighting the disease and all those who lost their battle with it.
A special ‘Victory Lap? is held during the relay in which the track is cleared of everyone except for a group of cancer survivors who walk one lap holding a banner that reads ‘Survivors Celebrate Life? and proudly wearing sashes that read ‘Survivor.?
There’s also a nighttime Luminaria Ceremony in which little white bags filled with sand and candles bearing the names of people who died from cancer, those still battling it and those who survived the disease are placed around the track. During the solemn ceremony, participants walk ‘several silent laps,? reading the names on the many bags.
The Luminaria Ceremony is also one of the relay’s main fund-raisers as teams sell the white bags for $10 each.
Flanagan said she’s hoping for a large turnout at the Feb. 23 Relay for Life kickoff event at Kalloway’s Restaurant and Pub. She noted that Oxford Township Trustee Pat Fitchena, a survivor of breast cancer, has been invited to speak at the event and ‘share her story.?
Fitchena was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2000, underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy (twice due to an infection) and 39 radiation treatments.
‘I truly feel blessed that I have gone five years cancer-free,? Fitchena said. ‘Thank God it has not resurfaced.?
Fitchena is quite passionate and adamant about the fight against cancer.
‘This is a sneaky disease that needs to be squashed,? she said, noting that her lump was found during a self-examination after years of having regular mammograms.
‘It was very slient,? she said. ‘I never had a clue anything was there.?
Fitchena said her breast cancer ‘broad-sided? her because there was never a history of it in her family. ‘It was always pancreatic cancer or colon cancer in my family,? she said.
Her 54-year-old sister died within six weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer while her 69-year-old father was given two months to live after being diagnosed with colon cancer.
‘In many cases, (the cancer) is so advanced before it’s detected,? Fitchena said.
Fitchena’s proud to be keynote speaker at the Oxford Relay for Life’s Feb. 23 kickoff event and said she will gladly participate in the Victory Lap for the second year in a row.
She said if the Relay for Life and her participation in it ‘can just encourage one person who’s going through this to hang on and keep fighting, it’s worthwhile.?
To RVSP your attendance at the kickoff event contact Jennifer Schulte at the American Cancer Society at (248) 483-4304 or e-mail her at jennifer.schulte@cancer.org.