Relay for Life
Celebrate. Remember. Fight back. These three words the epitome of the 12th Annual Mineral County Relay for Life event, which was held in Superior last Friday, beginning at 6 p.m. and running until 7 a.m. on Saturday morning. Throughout the night, participants celebrated the lives of those that have survived the battle with cancer, remembered those who have lost their lives and fought back by raising money to fund cancer research and programs.
Survivors gathered at 5 p.m. for the survivor banquet. The opening ceremonies were scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., but things were running a bit behind schedule. But as Monte Turner put it, "we've got all night."
Finally, the Superior Cub Scout Pack posted the American Flag out on the track and Mary Johnson, from St. Regis, sung the National Anthem. Ernie Ornelas, a family nurse practitioner at Mineral County Hospital, addressed the crowd as the night's keynote speaker. He touched on how everyone has been affected by cancer rather directly or indirectly. He spoke about his sister Emma, who was diagnosed in 1986 with colon cancer, and then after coming through, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. He described how the word cancer is a "dragon word" for those who face it. He said that as a practitioner and as a brother, he's seen the tornado that's followed the word: the storm of emotions, the loss of control one feels and the disbelief.
"But there is hope," Ornelas said, "and the Relay represents that hope."
Cancer survivor Linda Letcher, who was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2008, contested that when you are diagnosed, the only word that you remember is cancer.
"When you first hear the words, you just kind of go blank. There's nothing going on in your head. If they tell you anything else like you have an appointment at such and such a time, you don't remember it. You just remember you have cancer," Letcher said.
Letcher underwent surgery to have the lump removed and then had to make the difficult decision to undergo chemotherapy. Letcher said she really struggled with the decision, saying that it was her doctor that finally convinced her to undergo the chemotherapy as opposed to radiation.
"It hadn't spread anywhere, which was really good. And he told me that if one little cell did get away then it can be really hard, difficult to fight," Letcher said.
Letcher said that there were many days she did not feel good, but she tried not to let that get to her as she knew that better days were ahead. She said that taking her dog for a walk was one of the things that kept her going. Letcher said she had a border collie and had to take it for a walk every day, even if it was just around the block.
Jim Cyr, a cancer survivor who was diagnosed six years ago, said that he's realized you can't ever say that you are truly free of cancer. He said that when he was first diagnosed, it was a wakeup call.
"You realize that you aren't going to live forever," Cyr said. He said that as for strength to get through it, "you just have it."
Survivors were the first ones to take a lap, followed by the caregivers and finally the 17 teams that had signed up to walk throughout the night.
Maxine Mueller, walking on MCH's nursing staff team, said that it was her first time participating.
"It's fun," Mueller said. "It's uplifting."
Nancy Myers and Lynn Wood said that they were killing time spent on the track by talking with people and visiting with those that they hadn't seen in awhile. Darlene Jasper, walking on the Tarkio Trekkers team, said that she had been on several teams before and felt that it was a good event in which everyone "comes together as a community."
At 10 p.m., the luminaries were placed around the track, circling the fence and once lit, there was a moment of silence to remember those who had fallen, as well as honor those who were still alive. At midnight, the silent auction closed.
Relay for Life is one of the most successful not-for-profit events in the world according to the American Cancer Society. Micki Tourtelotte, the Team Development Chair for this year's Relay in Mineral County, said that they had one of the most successful turnouts this year. With 17 teams signed up, and the survivors, the event had 191 participants.
"This is the most participation we've ever had, more than any other year," Tourtelotte said.
At the start of the Relay, this year's event had already raised around $32,000, surpassing last year's total of about $25,000. However, with the silent auction and money that came in during the event on Friday, the total amount raised this year was $37, 394.
Kathie and Kami Millender's team, the Wit Rats, which was made up of eleven of Kathie's grandkids, 14 and younger, alone raised $1,386. Michele Parkin and Tourtelotte were the only two individuals to raise over $1,000 individually.
Other awards handed out included the best decorated team sight, which was awarded to the Moonwalkers for the Cure. A close second, an honorable mention went to the Tarkio Trekkers. The Mineral County Hospital Nursing Staff team was awarded the team spirit award. Finally, Moonwalkers for the Cure were also the team that had the top fundraiser.
And the fundraising isn't over. There is still opportunities to give money that would be accounted for through the end of August. Also, Tourtelotte said that they are raffling off a 3800 propane monitor heater valued at $1,595 that was donated by Energy Partners, LLC. For tickets, those interested can talk to anyone that was involved with the Relay's committee or to a team captain, as well as talk to Kathie at Energy Partners. The drawing will be held on August 7, at the rodeo.