The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
22nd annual Relay for Life held at Elyria Catholic
It was a beautiful day for a walk July 8 in Elyria, but for those walking around the track at Elyria Catholic their weekend jaunt had a lot more purpose.
The school, 725 Gulf Road, was the home of the Lorain County American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
According to Renee Rose, colead of the event, the Relay for Life is a day-long event that raises money for the society.
“The event consists of fundraisers, games and food at (teams’) campsites then that money gets donated to the American Cancer Society,” she said.
This year’s event had 24 teams walking to raise money. For those who don’t enjoy walking, there were also competitions, such as a hula hoop-off and a wing eating contest.
According to Rose, the event was once much larger, but the society attempted holding multiple in different cities across the county. This is the first event in several years there is a countywide relay.
Brenda Allen, the other co-lead for the event, said she has been involved in the fundraiser since 2004 when she attempted to donate some coloring materials to a local hospital.
She said this year they hope to raise $65,000 for the various programs the society provides.
“If you just look at the programs the American Cancer Society has; they have the 1-800 number you can call any time of day, they have the road to recovery, they have live good feel good,” she said. “I know where my money goes.”
Allen said she continues to take part in the relay because of the loss of her sister, who used to walk with her before she died of cervical cancer in 2009.
“In 2004 we didn’t have anybody in our family who had cancer,” she said. “In 2008 my sister was diagnosed with cervical cancer and we lost her eight months later. I think that’s why god brought me to this, and I still relay for her.”
Bobbie Sears, another member of the event’s leadership, has been relaying for the whole 22 years it has been held in the county. She said the event is important because of the money it raises and to build a community amongst cancer survivors.
“They have people that are sharing their same gift,” she said. “When you go to the survivors’ registration or their dinner you see all these survivors together whether they’ve just been diagnosed, or they’ve been diagnosed for five years or more than five years, they’re all on the same journey.”