WALK OF LIFE
Relay for Life shines light on cancer survivors
“I’m a 15-year survivor. It’s still emotional even though I’ve been coming for almost 15 years.” Sandra Ellis, 66, of Boyertown
LOWER POTTSGROVE >> Anyone who has battled cancer can tell you that there’s no time for rest during the fight.
That’s why cancer survivors took to the Pottsgrove High School track Saturday to do the inaugural lap that began the 24hour Relay for Life Pottstown.
As teams of people camped out around the track, members of each team took turns walking around the track for a full 24 hours. The event is meant to honor, support and raise money for those who are struggling, have struggled or lost their battle with cancer.
The track at Pottsgrove High School was filled with hundreds of people who came out to show their support Saturday, many of whom had survived cancer themselves.
“I’m a 15-year survivor. It’s still emotional even though I’ve been coming for almost 15 years,” said Sandra Ellis, 66, of Boyertown, who survived breast cancer. Ellis was there with her husband, David, who is a colon cancer survivor.
“I come back because I hope some day they will find a cure and I don’t want to see anymore people getting cancer,” said Sandra.
As the opening ceremony concluded, survivors lined up at the starting line to cut the ribbon and begin the walk with a grand entry. As survivors ended their first
lap around the track, they were welcomed back to the survivor’s tent for celebratory cake.
Kristen Lawhorne, the relay’s junior grand marshal, was one of many attendees who shared their story about the battle with cancer.
“When I was 14 I was diagnosed with bone cancer and they didn’t know what kind of bone cancer it was until after treatment so I was on a whole bunch of different chemotherapies and medications,” explained Lawhorne, who was a first time Relay attendee.
Kristen broke her leg during her time on chemotherapy, leaving her in a large cast that she said continued to get tighter despite the fact that she was losing weight. When doctors cut off the cast to find out what was happening, they found that the tumor on her leg had grown significantly. In May 2013, Lawhorne had her leg amputated.
“Fighting the whole way through was really difficult for me. About halfway through I kind of started to feel like I wanted to be done with everything and I didn’t want to do it anymore. So I had a lot of really good encouragement and support from my parents, my grandparents, all my friends, the staff at school. They kind of pushed me through that. I’m about 4 years cancer free now. I’ll graduate from high school in about 10 days and then I plan to go to Ursinus College for pre-med biology and then the ultimate goal is to become a pediatric oncologist. That’s what I really want to do.”
There was no shortage of inspiration to go around. One volunteer noted that although she has not battled cancer herself, her friends and family members who have suffered from the disease are the reason she continues to volunteer.
“I’ve been volunteering for about 15 or 16 years,” said volunteer Vicky Miller, of East Coventry. “My mother is a cancer survivor and my sister-in-law is a cancer survivor, my mother-in-law passed away from cancer, I have a very dear friend who fought the battle and some are still here and some aren’t. So it’s a very important thing that I participate in.”
The Relay proved to be yet another successful year for Pottstown, which in past years has had outstanding turnout and raised thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Association. The event has even prompted other Relay for Life events at places such as Boyertown, Daniel Boone and Phoenixville.
“Every year I come out to Pottstown’s event and spend some time because it’s a unique event,” said Gina Bitetti, relay manager and centralized support for the American Cancer Society. “They are one of the largest in the United States, they’re in the top 25. They have always a great leadership team, they have so many survivors. All the teams always do it up with a theme ... But I always come out to Pottstown’s each year because it’s phenomenal.”
This year, the relay raised $209,511.68 with the help of 75 teams and 1,312 participants.
“I look around at the other people and feel very grateful because there’s always someone else that’s struggling,” said Hope Steppler, 67, a cancer survivor originally from Douglassville. “Never give up, have a great attitude. I think my attitude from the beginning was I’m going to fight this, I’m going to be positive, I’m not going to let it get me down. Just pull in that great attitude, that fighting spirit, that faith and don’t give up.” Cancer survivors walk the track for the survivors lap during the 2016 Pottstown Relay for Life.