A World with More Birthdays, A World with Less Cancer

2010 Relay for Life Kicks Off

Story by Corinne Saunders

Cancer survivors hold up their cupcakes at the 2010 Relay for Life Kickoff on March 8. Photo by Corinne Saunders

Sharon Trivette, co-chair of the Watauga County Relay for Life 2010 Committee, addresses the crowd at the 2010 Relay for Life Kickoff on March 8. Photo by Corinne Saunders

Although to some, a birthday is a reminder that years are passing and they are aging, the American Cancer Society views each birthday as a victory, said Kathy Idol, co-chair of the Watauga County Relay for Life 2010 Committee.

“The American Cancer Society sees a world with more birthdays [as] a world with less cancer, where cancer never steals another birthday from another person,” Idol said.

The local 2010 Relay for Life kickoff took place March 8 at the Watauga Medical Center Auditorium. Cancer survivors were honored, relay team captains received their informational packets and special awards were presented to several 2009 participants.

The local Relay for Life was established 16 years ago and will continue to take place as long as cancer exists—“until we find a cure,” said Sharon Trivette, co-chair of the Watauga County Relay for Life 2010 Committee.

Members of each Relay for Life team must raise a minimum of $100, and each team is encouraged to have one member walking around the track throughout the night of the event—June 18 this year.

All funds raised by Relay for Life teams benefit the American Cancer Society, which focuses on research that leads to cures, and thus, saving lives and helping people celebrate more birthdays.

Relay for Life takes place in 20 countries, with 5,000 events in the U.S. and $3.4 billion raised since 1985, making it the single largest community fundraising event in the world, according to the Watauga County Relay for Life 2009 Final Report.

Approximately 11 million Americans today are cancer survivors, and many others have avoided getting caner, in part because of the work of the American Cancer Society, Idol said.

One YouTube video shown at the kickoff event focused on a man named Rob Youle, who had testicular cancer and said that the disease, once “an almost-sure death sentence” is now “almost always curable,” with a 90-plus percent survival rate.

The turnaround came directly from a cure that resulted from research conducted by the American Cancer Society, Youle said in the video.

Kathy Idol, co-chair of the Watauga County Relay for Life 2010 Committee, goes over 2009 Relay for Life accolades at the March 8 kickoff event. Photo by Corinne Saunders

For the sixth consecutive year, Della Presnell receives the award for the 2009 Watauga County individual raising the most money for Relay for Life. Photo by Corinne Saunders

Watauga County Relay for Life Accolades
Despite the economic downturn, in 2009, Watauga County ranked No. 2 in the country in its population division of 40,000 to 50,000 for funds raised ($260,739.39) and No. 1 in the country for the number of survivors participating in the event (751).

This marked the 11th consecutive year Watauga County Relay for Life ranked in the top 10 in the country in its population division for funds raised, and the fifth consecutive year of winning the “Power of Hope” award for ranking No. 1 in the number of survivors participating.

Watauga County also had 100 percent school participation in 2009, meaning every school had at least one Relay for Life team, Idol said.

Personal awards went to Della Presnell, who, as a team of one, was the individual in Watauga County who raised the most money for the sixth year in a row ($9,857); and to Colby Warren of Cove Creek Elementary, who was the child who raised the most money in Watauga County ($1,327).

The Friends for Life team was recognized as the team that raised the most money in Watauga County in 2009 ($14,067).

Twenty-nine individuals reached “Grand Club Member” status by raising $1,000 or more, and Sharon Yates and Toni Floyd of the Weaver Warriors received the 2009 Alma Harmon Heart of Relay Award.

“Every year, we’ve had something that reaffirmed why we’re doing this,” Yates said of participating in Relay for Life.

Over the years, in addition to family members dying of cancer, her daughter’s best friend and roommate died at age 24 of lung cancer and her husband’s best friend also died of cancer, she said.

“I’m thankful it’s never come to me personally,” Yates said, but added that she hopes to leave a legacy behind to her children that “they have a responsibility to make a difference—just because it doesn’t affect you personally doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect you.”

For those who battle cancer, “it’s their neighbors and friends and coworkers and people they see when they go through treatments [that] become family,” she said.

Cancer survivor Mary Ruble has been a team captain for 16 years now, she said when addressing the crowd on March 8.

Her team name is Metamorphosis, which means “to change form or substance; to transform,” she said.

Ruble had her first mammogram at age 49, and its results were positive for cancer, she said, adding that this was around the time her mother died of cancer.

The American Cancer Society advocates for women to get mammograms before age 50, and Ruble said, “Without the American Cancer Society, I wonder if I’d waited until 50, if I’d be here tonight.”

For Ruble, the letters of the word RELAY have special significance. To her, R stands for “remembering our loved ones,” she said. “Some, like my mother, are no longer with us.”

R also stands for “reflecting on our lives,” E is for “empathy for those in the midst of their battle [and for] encouragement, because a hug or call can mean so much.”

L is for “Love, holding hands and walking with arms around each other [and] laughter of giggling kids on the Airwalk, playing and eating funnel cakes,” she said.

Y stands for “Why? Why are you a team captain? Why do you volunteer?” Ruble said.

“Caring is contagious, so go out there and raise some money and some spirits,” she said.


Getting Involved in Relay
The Tanger Outlets in Blowing Rock hold an annual breast cancer awareness campaign each October, and raised $28,311.13 toward this year’s Relay for Life, Trivette said.

A total of $35,793.12, including that check, has been deposited toward this year’s funding as of last Monday, Trivette said.

“It’s not too late to start a team,” Trivette said. “We can get people started at any time.”

Trivette or Idol can give a presentation to any church, family, business or other groups interested in starting a 2010 Relay for Life team, she added.

Businesses can also opt to sponsor a track sign for $100, which will display facts about cancer, as well as the business name, on a sign placed by the track on the night of Relay for Life, she said.

Several teams already have scheduled events, which their team captains shared at the kickoff event.

A team from the Tanger Outlets will host a fashion show on Sunday, March 28, at ASU’s I.G. Greer; The Relay for Life Spring Thaw 5K Road Race will take place Saturday, April 10; the Friends for Life Breakfast at Applebee’s takes place from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. on April 17; and Ringing for Relay, a handbell concert, takes place at First Baptist Church in Boone on May 23.

In addition to creating a team or attending events benefiting Relay for Life, the general public can donate directly to the fundraising efforts.

The Watauga County Relay for Life fiscal year runs through August 31, so donations can be made through that date, Trivette said.

Checks should be made out to the American Cancer Society or Relay for Life, she said.

For more information or to start a team, call Trivette at 828-297-1691 or Idol at 828-264-5240.

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