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Relay for Life brings hope
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by CARRIE LOVEJOY
Terry Hurley of Huntingtown, right, and her son Chris make a balloon arch for the Calvert County Relay for Life last Friday evening.
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The event's theme of hope flickered in the luminaries and Garden of Hope torches, it came from the lips of speakers and was seen in the more than 100 survivors who wore purple "survivor" T-shirts.
"We all gather here for one cause, the rid of cancer," said co-chair Paula Rosnage, who has been lauding this year's "Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back" theme since the end of last year's relay.
Through research, advocacy, getting mammograms and "your dollars, we are fighting back" with the hope that one day there is no more cancer, she said.
Jack Smith, superintendent of Calvert County public schools and honorary chair of the event, said, "Thank you for giving us hope," to all the survivors present at the relay. The public schools were again acknowledged for 100 percent participation.
Smith spoke about polio, a debilitating disease that crippled thousands of children years ago that is now virtually gone.
"If it's possible with polio, it's possible with cancer," he said.
"It is the strength of the cancer survivor that inspires us," said Wilson Parran, Calvert County Board of County Commissioner's president.
Afterwards, 32-year cancer survivor Evelyn Perry Long, 76, told her story of being diagnosed and treated several times for cancer and how God carried her through each time.
Along with applause during speeches, the crowd shed tears as team captain for Jessica's Sand Steppers Wendy Madison spoke about her 20-year-old niece, Jessica Moreland, who fought cancer for 10 months before dying in February. Madison, who spoke through tears at times, said she gained strength through her niece, her hero, to stand up and talk for Jessica.
After the opening ceremony, the survivors walked the first lap alone to the song "Celebration" and started off the 12-hour relay.
"I definitely have a big reason to celebrate," said Brianna Colleli, who just completed chemotherapy three weeks ago for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Colleli, who was team captain for the Lympho-Maniacs, said it was also going to be her 19th birthday next week. A 2008 Huntingtown High School graduate and volunteer EMT for Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department, Colleli said her team consisted of family, friends and employees of Rita's Ice of Prince Frederick, who sponsored the team.
Teams' tents lined the track displaying clever names and businesses, church and family names that all sold items, raffle tickets or ideas to raise more funds for the American Cancer Society.
Team Bright Lites was all about family, a team in memory of family members who have died from cancer, said Renee Bright.
"It's an emotional support event," Bright said. It's such a worthwhile cause, she said.
Another family team, Jeffery's Team, participated in its fifth relay and was formed to support Jeffrey Gibson, who was diagnosed with cancer in his knee when he was 11 years old. Gibson, who is now cancer free, was on crutches for the relay due to a fall into a 16-foot ravine while hiking in the woods. He said he was doing things he didn't get to do when he was a teenager while going through treatment.
The festive event was packed with activities for children such as face-painting, moon bounce and laser tag. Children also stood in line for a new feature this year, as two caricature artists drew likenesses of children who patiently sat for them.
Rosnage gave a message of hope as the sun set and everyone gathered around the field of luminarias and torches in the Garden of Hope. The luminaries were small purple and white bags that glowed from candles burning inside — some with messages written on them — each of them dedicated to a person who has died or has battled cancer. The Garden of Hope, a new addition last year, is a temporarily landscaped area that includes tiki torches adorned with plaques in memory or in honor of someone.
The night sky brought in a solemn tone as the luminaries were lit all at once, bringing a glow over the field as a bag piper walked the field playing "Amazing Grace."
The once rambunctious and lively crowd became silent in honor of those who lost their battle with cancer. And even the young children, some who sat on their parent's shoulders, seemed to understand and became reverent and quiet.
Many of the families with small children departed the relay afterwards, but the night went on with music, soccer and volleyball tournaments and plenty of food as some stayed awake the whole night until the closing ceremonies on Saturday morning shortly after the sun came back up — a symbol of a new day and hope for a bright future.
