Relay for Life: Hope offered, awareness and funds raised
Thalia Juarez | Herald-Standard
In this file photo, three-year-old Bryson Sapp stands for a group photo with Bryan Sapp, Brittany Sapp, and 6-year-old Charleigh Clevenger, the 2013 Survivor Ambassador, during the 2016 Fayette County Relay For Life on Saturday at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
Thalia Juarez | Herald-Standard
In this file photo, survivor Ambassadors Trystan Boyd, 14, and his aunt Penny Moser, 54, of New Salem get ready to lead the Survivor Lap during the 2016 Fayette County Relay For Life event Saturday at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
Thalia Juarez | Herald-Standard
In this 2016 photo, cancer survivors participate in the Survivor Walk, during the 2016 Fayette County Relay For Life event at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
Thalia Juarez | Herald-Standard
In this 2016 file photo, Ashley Henderson of Connellsville accepts a rose from Vannessa Wilson during the Survivor and Caregiver Lap at the 2016 Fayette County Relay For Life event Saturday at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. Henderson, who lost her grandmother to cancer, is a survivor herself as well as her mom, and her aunt.
Thalia Juarez | Herald-Standard
Bransen McKay, 28 and Laura Mickey, 27 both of Uniontown walk in a cardboard box car with Aiyanna Thompson and Kyhaire Pruitt of Team Fred’s Faith during the 2016 Fayette County Relay For Life event Saturday at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, in this 2016 file photo.
Thalia Juarez | Herald-Standard
In this 2016 file photo, Vannessa Wilson, of Smithfield and chair of survivor/caregiver committee, hands out flowers during the survivor and caregiver lap at the 2016 Fayette County Relay For Life on Saturday at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
In the United States, an estimated 1,688,780 new cancer cases will be diagnosed this year, according to the American Cancer Society.
Playing a role in raising awareness, fundraising and offering hope are two local chapters of its annual fundraising events.
“It’s important for survivors and the local community to know their community members, and the American Cancer Society stands with them in their fight against cancer,” said Katie Ronald, who is with the Greensburg-based ACS office and overseeing the Mount Pleasant Relay for Life.
Scheduled for Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m., this year’s events serve as a beacon of hope for survivors and those currently in the battle, Ronald said.
“Whether you’re in the battle, or remission — we’re all in this fight together,” she said. “We all want to find the cure.”
The Mount Pleasant events are scheduled to be held at the Mount Pleasant Senior High School.
Lisa Rose, one of three chairwomen for this year’s Fayette County Relay for Life, said it’s a great way to meet other people and teams who are collaborating for the walk.
“There is hope. The money raised is going towards the research for the elimination of cancer,” Rose said, who chairs with Sascha McCay and Chris Hair. “We’re getting close.”
Fayette County events are also from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and are scheduled to take place at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
New to the lineup this year are a car show and vendors, which will be available from noon to 4 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., respectively.
Connellsville-based rapper Tristan Dare will also perform at 4 p.m., Rose said.
“Currently, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be affected by cancer. We want everyone to know that the American Cancer Society is always there and has resources available to help you,” said Nathaniel Sofranko, community manager for Relay for Life for the eastern division of the ACS.
For Rose, a 12-year cancer survivor, the events are about offering hope and reminder that there’s life after a diagnosis.
“Once you’re diagnosed, you think, ‘This could be it.’ But there’s hope,” Rose said. “If there’s someone new coming here this year, I’m giving them hope. And for us survivors, it’s our little reunion every year. We mark it as another year of survivorship.”
She also finds hope in seeing survivors who are 30 and 40 years out from their diagnosis and treatment.
Caregivers are also acknowledged at both the Mount Pleasant and Fayette County events at 4 p.m. in the “Caregiver’s Lap,” during which they often walk with the person they’ve supported, according to the ACS.
Those in attendance at the Fayette County events will hear from this year’s ambassador, Patty Hennessy, who is heavily involved in Relay for Life events, and is a uterine cancer survivor.
Brady Hunker, a soon-to-be junior at Mount Pleasant Senior High School, will speak at the Mount Pleasant Relay for Life as their ambassador this year.
A luminaria is also held at 9:30 in both locations. Rose noted that it’s a chance to honor loved ones who have lost their battles to cancer.
“Even for the ones who have passed away, you see the family come back year after year to offer support for others,” she said.
“The luminaria is one of the most powerful things you can experience,” Ronald said. “We light luminarias around the track in honor of those who lost their battles.”
Sofranko added that in the Fayette County events, their fundraising goal is $125,000.
“The Relay for Life event is about bringing a community together in the fight against cancer,” he said. “We hope that everyone can join us for a day filled with fun and help us achieve our fundraising goal.”