Every spring, The American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life brings the war on cancer into clear focus, as impacted individuals share stories of battle, pain, love, loss, victory, determination and hope.
The 12-hour ACS Relay for Life/North County took place last Saturday in Sebastian’s Riverview Park. As the 11 a.m. opening ceremony approached, the park filled with cancer survivors, caregivers, loved ones, sponsors, volunteers and relay teams, most wearing distinctive purple T-shirts identifying their role in the fight.
“We’re here joining forces with nearly 4 million people worldwide, including 11 million cancer survivors in the U.S.,” said event chair Charlotte Carlson Waitner to the crowd.
Survivor Amy Cosner shared her story, saying that as an event volunteer leader, a survivor and a Dust Bunny (her cleaning business), “I wear three shirts to emphasize the Relay’s three-step program: Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back.”
Cosner was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, underwent surgery and chemo with support from family and friends and today is a seven-year survivor. “This is why I celebrate.”
The following year, her older sister was diagnosed with breast cancer, underwent treatment and also became a survivor. Almost two years to the day after her own diagnosis, Cosner’s baby sister, a wife and mother, also received the devastating diagnosis. Sadly, less than two years later, she died. “This is why I remember.”
With no previous family history, three sisters were diagnosed with breast cancer. “This is why I fight back – for my husband, my children, my grandchildren, my friends and co-workers.”
With a floppy hat, purple “caregiver” tee and extremely positive demeanor, Micco resident Madeleine Pretz pushed her walker, preparing to join fellow survivors and caregivers on the Victory Lap. A wide smile on her own face, she said, “I always try to get people to smile back at me.”
When daughter Cheryl Haws was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 19, given a slim chance of survival and told she’d likely never have children, Pretz became her caregiver. Haws not only survived, she now has two sons. And when Pretz became ill and totally lost her ability to speak, ”I had to learn all over again,” Haws helped her battle through it. “We were each other’s caregivers.”
Led by the SRHS Marching Sharks percussion line, the relay began as survivors and caregivers headed out on the victory lap, supporters cheering along the way, and all day long, various groups continued the walk.
Around midday, Sebastian surgeon Dr. Haidi Shalhoub, for the second consecutive year, got a very special haircut after having let it grow for 8 months. It was carefully cut, then donated to be made into wigs for cancer patients who lost their own hair to chemo.
Luminarias inscribed with the names of those who had lost their battles lined the park pathways, providing a gentle glow as evening descended and the Relay came to an end.
Among principal supporters were Bay Street Pharmacy, Sebastian River Medical Center, Van de Voorde Hall Law, 94-7 Hot Country, and Capt. Hiram’s.
e/North County took place Saturday in Sebastian’s Riverview Park. Unlike other Relay’s it started at 11 a.m.
As the Opening Ceremony approached, Event Chair Charlotte Carlson Waitner announced, “We’re joining forces with nearly 4 million people worldwide, including 11 million cancer survivors in the US.”
Survivor Amy Cosner shared her story. In 2007, Cosner was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent surgery and chemo, with support from family and friends. Today she is a 7-year survivor.
“This is why I celebrate,” she said.
The following year, her older sister was diagnosed with breast cancer, underwent treatment and is a survivor. Then, Cosner’s baby sister, a wife and mother, received the devastating diagnosis. Sadly, less than two years later, she died.
“This is why I remember,” Cosner added.
With no previous family history, three sisters were diagnosed with breast cancer.
“This is why I fight back: for my husband, my children, my grandchildren, friends and co-workers,” she said.
Micco resident Madeleine Pretz pushed her walker, preparing to join the Victory Lap. When daughter Cheryl Haws’ was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 19, given little chance of survival and told she’d likely never have children, Pretz became her caregiver.
Cheryl not only survived, but she now has two sons.
As it turned out, “We were each other’s caregivers.”
When Pretz became ill and totally lost her ability to speak, Cheryl helped her battle through it.
Around midday, Sebastian surgeon Dr. Haidi Shalhoub, for the second year, got a very special haircut. After Shalhoub had let his hair grow for 8 months, it was carefully cut, then donated to be made into wigs for cancer patients.
Luminarias inscribed with the names of those who had lost their battles lined the park pathways, providing a gentle glow as evening descended and the Relay came to an end.
