Fight Back! becomes the battle cry for 2009 Relay

Organizers hope to raise more than $190,000

By DONNA HICKMAN
Daily Journal Staff Writer

The St. Francois County Relay For Life has set its theme, its goals and perhaps, its battle cry for 2009.

“Fight!” yelled Cancer Survivor Margaret Cannell.

“Back!” the crowd at the Relay Kickoff yelled back Sunday.

They stood in an ovation to Cannell who told the crowd of more than 150 people how the Relay continues to help others beat the disease. She’s one of the American Cancer Society’s Heroes of Hope, spreading her story at gatherings like the kickoff.

‘We have loved ones walking around because we relay,” she said. “I would like for all of you to get as mad as you can and fight back!”

Sunday’s kickoff in Heritage Hall in Bonne Terre was designed to build enthusiasm and sign up teams for the 13th annual Relay set for Mineral Area College July 24-25. The theme  will be the 1980s — honoring the 25th anniversary of Relay which began with one man’s all night walk to raise money in 1985. Since then, hundreds of Relays have been held around the world.

While the teams raise money throughout the year, they come together at the Relay to take turns walking a track set up for the event. All night long, they celebrate the money they collected and the lives that money will help to save as it goes to the American Cancer Society, to research a cure and fund services for cancer patients.

“Last year, we netted $183,479 after expenses,” said Dave Bahr, 2009 Relay Chairman. “This year, we are going to net $190,000.”

He told the crowd it would take the hard work of each team member as well as the hard work of everyone in the community. The Relay’s goal is 60 teams with as many as 15 members each. Each team is asked to raise at least $1,500. But Bahr noted that two teams last year each raised $20,000 and he challenged the Relay-ers to shoot for three teams that raise that much this year.  Early bird registration continues through Feb. 27 with team members able to sign up for $5 each online at www.relayforlife.org/stfrancoiscomo. To find out more about organizing a team, call Michelle Parks at 573-518-1445 or Lynna Sago at 573-518-1320.

Each team is encouraged to have at least one cancer survivor among its members.

“Relay For Life is an event not only to raise money, but to raise awareness of cancer,” said Cindi Thurman, Relay Vice Chair. “The Relay For Life was the last community event my father was able to go to, so it has a special place in my heart.” Thurman’s dad, Darrell Green, died of cancer.

Lee Ann Fisher’s mom, Beth Harrington, had cervical cancer eight years ago and survived. For the last six years, Fisher has honored her mother with a team for the Relay For Life. This year, the name’s different, but the enthusiasm is the same.

“Everybody I know who participates in the Relay does it because cancer has touched their lives in some way,” said Fisher, whose team is called “Beating The Odds.” “My grandmother is a breast cancer survivor and I have a cousin who just finished treatment for breast cancer.”

Carrie Merrill leads the team she calls, “Toni’s Angels.” Toni was her mother, Toni Hagerty, who lost her bout with breast cancer last January.

“She walked in 2007 in the Relay in Iron County and we had a team in her memory in that relay in 2008,” said Merrill. “We decided to take part in the one in St. Francois County this year because it’s bigger and most of my family is in St. Francois County.”

Her team plans a softball tournament in Park Hills in April and will host a gospel singing. They’re also hoping to sell pink ribbons all over Bismarck and beyond. The team is made up of mostly family members. As they walk they remember how much Toni loved her survivor walk that year in Ironton.

“Mom’s illness pulled us together,” said Merrill. “A cancer diagnosis just devastates you. She fought all she could. She was 53 when she died.”

The Relay is designed to symbolize the life of a cancer patient. It starts at dusk and ends in the morning hours of the following day. The light and darkness of the day and night parallel the physical effects, emotions and mental state of a cancer patient while undergoing treatment. In the early morning, though they are tired, the Relay participants know they will make it — just as the cancer patient nearing the end of treatment is tired, but fights to make it.

The sun rising represents the end of treatment for the cancer patient, who sees the light at the end of the tunnel.

“Fight!” said Bahr.

“Back!” yelled the crowd as Charlie Berry cranked up the sound on the song, “Celebrate!”

Cannell and Bahr commended the spirit of Roy Henson who left his wheelchair in September to walk 38 yards and has so far raised more than $8,000 toward his goal of $10,000 for Relay.

Bahr said,  “I think you can all look on the Daily Journal Web site (www.dailyjournalonline.com) and see how Roy did it. It’s stuff like that that’s going to make everybody in the community come together to reach the goals we have set for 2009.”

At the kickoff, teams from the 2008 event were honored. The Marvinettes were named Rookie Team of the year in the Eastern Missouri Region of the American Cancer Society. Third place among top fundraisers in the region was Thelma McFalls and 2nd place in the region for a fundraising team was the Save A Lot, Save A Life team. The St. Francois County Relay was also honored with an award for having the highest dollar growth in the Eastern Missouri Region and received the Highest Per Capita Award for the region.

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

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