43
Cancer survivors, families get a lift at fundraiser at YSU at
By ED RUNYAN
YOUNGSTOWN
In the year since the 2009 Relay for Life, some people are no longer here because of cancer, and some have learned that they, too, have it, Pastor Bob Noble of Locust Grove Baptist Church near Salem said at the kickoff 2010 relay in the Mahoning Valley on Friday.
But the good news is that fewer people died last year from cancer than the year before.
“It is our hope that through research, there will be new hope, new life brought to the fight against cancer,” he said during opening remarks and prayer as the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life began Friday night inside Beeghly Center at Youngstown State University.
“Maybe individually it would be tough to determine the cause of the disease, but together we can be lifted up,” he said.
Pastor Noble then sang “You Raise Me Up,” a song of inspiration to the many cancer survivors who attended the 18-hour event to raise awareness and money and provide support to cancer survivors and their families.
A short time later, Charles Stark of Canfield, diagnosed with cancer in 2007, experienced a bit of that lift as his pastor, The Rev. Mike McHale of Lockwood United Methodist Church of Boardman, helped Stark complete one of his laps around the auditorium.
“I’m lucky. They caught it early,” Stark said of the cancer in his cheek. The chemotherapy he received did affect his lungs, Stark said, so he receives oxygen.
Stark said seeing so many cancer survivors also gave him a lift because it shows how many people are surviving the disease.
Nancy Barker of Vienna, a student at YSU who has helped her honors society, Lambda Pi Eta, raise money for the relay, attended the event with her daughter, Brennah, 4, and a fellow communications student, Tiffany Talrico of Austintown.
“The walks are real emotional,” Barker said of first lap, which focuses attention on the cancer survivors. “We were both tearing up. I give them a lot of credit. They faced a huge battle, and it’s good to see them walking.”
A special Fight Back Ceremony will be at 9:30 a.m. today . It gives people an opportunity to make a pledge to take personal action in the fight against cancer.
The ceremony features Dallas Blocker, a YSU basketball senior forward, who received the 10th annual V Foundation Comeback Award, given by The V Foundation for Cancer Research in collaboration with ESPN-TV.
Blocker will tell his story of being diagnosed and treated for testicular cancer.
Anyone wishing to make a pledge may do so by participating in the ceremony or by visiting www.relayforlife.org. or calling the toll-free at (888) 227-6446, ext. 2214.