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Students in Hubbard learn about cancer, walk laps to fight it
Students in Hubbard learn about cancer, walk laps to fight it
By LINDA M. LINONIS
Vindicator Staff Writer
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SURVIVOR WALK: Members of the Fisher family joined their adopted grandma, Patty Boyle, for her survivor walk at the Relay for Life at St. Patrick School in Hubbard. From left, John, 12; Patty Boyle; Joe, 10; Michelle; and Billy, 13, walk in the gymnasium at St. Patrick School.
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LIGHTING LUMINARIA: Allison Naples, a senior at Ursuline High School, lights the first of many luminarias during the Relay for Life event at St. Patrick School in Hubbard.
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Tom Beasley tells of his life experiences with cancer at St. Patrick School in Hubbard Relay for Life event.
Marcy Sebest, Relay for Life coordinator at St. Patrick School in Hubbard, has a personal stake in the event to benefit the American Cancer Society.
Her husband, Joe, had leukemia, which is now in remission. But the diagnosis of the disease brought home, literally, the reality of cancer to her and their sons, Joey, 13, an eighth-grader; and Jack, 11, a sixth-grader, both at St. Patrick School. She’s coordinated the relay project for five years.
The school’s 135 students in kindergarten through eighth grade participated in a mini Relay for Life fundraiser Monday in the parish center. About 30 preschoolers at St. Patrick also were involved.
“For the kids, I think the event gives them a chance to help other people,” Sebest said. “And it helps them deal with the emotions they have because their families have been touched by cancer.”
Sebest said another important aspect was talking about the disease and learning some prevention tips.
The fourth annual event began Monday morning with the reading of names of survivors and victims of cancer from the church and school. Luminarias were then lighted in their honor and memory. Throughout the school day, classes walked laps that lasted about 20 minutes.
Guest speaker Tom Beasley shared a personal story on how cancer has affected his family. He told the students and adult relay participants that his youngest daughter, Rachel, was diagnosed six years ago with melanoma. She was treated and had four years in remission; the skin cancer was diagnosed again in February 2008. “She had surgery, was in clinical trials and suffered,” Beasley said.
His daughter died Jan. 15, 2009, at 31.
Beasley said the family pondered the cause. They acknowledged that Rachel had liked to get a suntan outdoors and also spent time at tanning salons. “That may have contributed to it,” he said. But, he admitted, her slow reaction to the change in what he described as “humble freckles” allowed the cancer to spread to her lymph system. “There were warning signs,” Beasley said.
And that’s the message Beasley wanted to share with the students. “Use common sense, eat healthy, exercise, have a good body weight,” he said. “Don’t live in fear of cancer because if it’s caught early, you can be helped. Don’t ignore the warning signs.”
Patricia Boyle, a breast-cancer survivor of 15 years, walked in the survivors lap along with the Fishers — Billy, 13, eighth-grader; John, 11, sixth-grader; and Joey, 10, fifth-grader — and their aunt, Michelle Fisher of Sharon, Pa. Boyle described herself as the boys’ “surrogate grandmother” because her daughter, Lori, is married to their uncle, Matt Fisher, of Florida. “It’s about being with family and showing support.”
“This is about celebrating life,” Michelle Fisher said. “It also teaches the younger generation about the importance of faith, family and love.”
“It’s to honor the survivors,” Billy said.
“The relay is for fighting the disease,” John said. “The more people that fight it, that helps survivors,” Joey said.
The students have raised close to $10,000 throughout their years of participation. They get pledges for walking, collect loose change in the classrooms and buy luminaries. The school turns over the money it raises to the Liberty Relay for Life Team. Sebest said the classes also have a door decorating contest.
Francesa Kostek, income development coordinator with the ACS, said the Liberty Relay for Life will be May 14-15 at Church Hill Park. Kostek and Sebest said this mini Relay for Life allowed the students to be involved in the ACS project but not field a team for the May event.
Cindy Lacko, school principal, said, “The event truly brings together family and community. It helps children make connections and develop compassion because this is a way for them to help.”
She said the “reality of cancer” is in families at the school and parish. Her husband, Jim, had colon cancer and will be cancer free for five years in March. “The relay promotes community service,” he said.
Sebest noted that many of the students go on to participate in relays as they get older.