Relay helps fight cancer

By Jordan Cohen

A record number of teams tried to meet the goal of $113,000.

NILES — An estimated 150 cancer survivors, from the elderly to the very young, took the traditional lap around Bo Rein Stadium to start the annual Trumbull Relay for Life.

Many had special stories to tell Friday evening, and they weren’t shy about telling them.

There was Denise Danielson, 43, Niles, who has been battling ovarian cancer since 1999. She was in remission for several years but had to undergo another series of treatments last fall when the cancer resurfaced.

“Everything is clear right now, and I’m fine,” Danielson said. “It’s a thrill for me to walk the survivor lap.”

Her team, the Davis/Danielson Family, hopes to raise $5,000 during the 24-hour relay. Team members wore T-shirts with the slogan “All I want for Christmas is a cure for cancer.”

There was Vivian Hess, 65, Warren, who organized the Angels of Hope team. It is the second relay team she has headed.

“I’ve had cancer for 18 years,” said Hess, who is battling leukemia along with uterine cancer. “That’s why this is so important to me.”

Hess said her team is already near its goal of $5,000. “We’re within $600 to $700, and I think we’ll make it.”

Survivors and hundreds of other participants were visibly relieved that the thunderstorms, which dumped frequently heavy rains Friday, stayed away from the opening ceremonies and the first few hours of the event.

For Shawn Bryant, chairman of the Niles Relay, that was just one of many blessings. Another is that Bryant, 50, is a survivor of brain cancer, which forced him to retire from the Howland Fire Department, but it has not stopped him from being an active chairman and event booster.

“We have 26 teams, the largest number we’ve ever had, going out there to try to raise $113,000,” Bryant said. “Sometimes things have gotten a little lean because of the economy, but the important thing is that this [relay] is still growing for us.”

Bryant said each team, averaging 18 to 20 members, sets a fund- raising goal of $2,500 to $5,000. He expects to know by 5 p.m. today if the goal has been met.

Bryant said 26 organizations, schools, companies, unions and the city of Niles paid $1,000 to set up tents on the stadium field with each offering a number of raffles and prizes. All proceeds go to the Trumbull Chapter of the American Cancer Society.

“We are always here and we’re always going to be here,” said Mayor Ralph Infante, who was working in the Niles tent. Infante was later honored with the Trumbull Chapter’s Spirit of Hope Award for his support of the event.

Leading the survivor procession on a golf cart were the honorary queen and king. The queen, Ruby Nagy, 69, Niles, has been a cancer survivor since 1992. The king, Scott Thompson of Bristolville, has survived five years.

There is more to Scott’s story: He is just 7 years old.

“He suffered a sarcoma of the leg when he was 2,” said his mother, Melissa Rhine, “but he’s in remission and we’re so grateful.”

“I feel good,” Scott said.

Rhine said her son, a first-grader at Bristol Elementary, wanted to contribute to the relay, so he set up a lemonade stand and donated all his money to the Trumbull Chapter of the American Red Cross.

“He raised $25,” Rhine said, prompting Scott to offer high-fives to all who congratulated him.