Survivors
celebrated, victims remembered at cancer relay
By Chris Mac Kenzie
The Alpine Sun
ALPINE — They were all there last weekend at the 24-hour
Relay for Life: Adults, youth, children, people in wheel chairs or
walking with canes, dozens and dozens of cancer survivors and
those still fighting the disease.
The colorfully decorated Joan Mac Queen Middle School
sports fields were crowded with loyal Alpine residents raising
funds for the American Cancer Society to use in finding a cure for
the Big C.
Twenty teams, with half- to two dozen members, walked laps on the
school’s track, making sure that at least one team member was
walking at all times. Led by the Cat in the Hat, played by Sidney
Franklin and Thing 1 and Thing 2, (the Finch sisters, Amy and
Caitlin) right out of Dr. Seuss, everyone walked the first two
laps to the trumpet calls provided by Steve Dillard.
Many of the teams were captained by a survivor who had
recruited family and friends, like young Christopher Fellows. He
came back early from summer camp and brought along three friends
to walk. Teams, with matching costumes or hats, represented
schools, churches, service organizations, native American tribes,
and local businesses. Each group represented a particular kind of
cancer, often honoring its captain or a loved one.
They set up decorated tents where walkers could rest
between laps and where some sold refreshments and other things to
help raise more money. All kinds of entertainment, music, dancing,
professional DJs, drawings, midnight movies and bingo games,
filled the hours, along with theme and fun laps. Early risers
showed up to walk the 5 and 6 a.m. laps.
Even the all important nourishment was not forgotten.
Albertsons provided lunch and dinner at minimal cost to the
walkers, while Kiwanis and the Lions Club served breakfast on
Sunday morning.
It wasn’t all fun though. There were serious and very moving
moments like the ceremony at 6 p.m. when a few survivors told the
stories illness.
Mary Rynearson placed a survivor medallion around their
necks, and the other survivors were gifted with a ribbon and a
pin. Then each of the 30 survivors released a dove to carry the
message high into the sky.
Another heart wrenching moment occurred with the
beautiful luminaria ceremony at 9 p.m. when nearly 1,000 candle
lit bags of sand were put in place, ringing the track, by local
Girl Scouts so that walkers completed their laps in flickering
candlelight.
Each bag carried a message written by the purchaser to
honor a loved one. Some, like the bag with lines saying, “Mommy, I
miss you,” brought tears to the eyes.
The events’ co-chairs, Carol Lewis and Mary Rynearson,
had a lot of devoted people helping them. Among them were Becky
Kirkwood, Caitlin Finch, Amy Finch, Marcia and Wally Walker,
Stephanie Ross, Sue Roff, Diana Felix, Ginny Fellows, Linda Finch,
Diana Peacher, Linda Force, Alexis Vignal, Alison Henson, ACS
staff, as well as many loyal, local sponsors who provided
materials, equipment, services, entertainment, food and money.
As Dr. Seuss might have said, “Oh, the places we are
going. Oh, the things we will do. Oh, the fun we will have. And
oh, the people we’ll thank.”
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