It takes a village . . .
Emotions overcame both those walking and watching, as tears flowed for the hard times overcome and the battles still being waged.
Survivors wearing red sashes made the first lap of the annual Relay For Life in Palmerston North on Saturday, held at the former Hokowhitu Campus, to support the Cancer Society.
Among them was Jess Maxwell, 18, supported by her sister Sam, 23.
Jess Maxwell was diagnosed with leukaemia when she was 2, and had three years of treatment and chemotherapy.
The family has participated in the 24-hour relay for 16 years under the team moniker The Village People, because it takes a village to raise a family, especially one struck by illness.
Though Jess Maxwell doesn’t remember much about the initial treatments, it cast a sizeable shadow on her life. It was only last year she had her final doctor’s checkup related to cancer.
The bright beads around her neck number 1700, marking the procedures and milestones she has reached.
She said it was amazing to see all the other survivors walking the lap with her, knowing they had a
shared experience.
‘‘I’m very proud of myself. I was so young and I didn’t really have much knowledge and the strength you need, so it’s pretty amazing that I am able to do all this.’’
Older sister Sam Maxwell said she remembered the ordeal her sister went through and she was honoured to walk the survivors’ lap with her.
Mum Catherine Maxwell said for the family Relay For Life was a celebration.
‘‘It brings back all the memories of all those years ago and it makes us proud of who she’s become, and who her sisters are, and how much stronger it made all of them.’’
Cutting the ribbon at this year’s relay was Laura Roberts, 33, and her father Peter Taylor.
Roberts had been diagnosed with bowel and liver cancer at 28, while her father battled throat cancer.
Roberts was 35 weeks pregnant when she got the news that turned her world upside down.
Her daughter Lucy, now 4, was at the relay with her, as were her other two children, Charlotte, 6, and Benjamin, 2.
Roberts, who completed her treatment three years ago, said these days her family didn’t take any good fortune for granted, nor did they stress about day-to-day frustrations that paled in comparison to cancer.
Taylor said his own battle had been tough, but harder still was watching the disease afflict his daughter. He said it was nice to see the survivors’ lap growing in its number of participants, suggesting cancer was not the death sentence it used to be.