Walking towards hope

Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro residents will have a chance to unite this Friday night and Saturday morning at Beverley Manor Middle School from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. to represent the community in the fight against cancer.
The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life has been battling the disease for years – this year’s event marks the 10th anniversary for Augusta County Relay for Life.
“You read the obituaries everyday and see the number of people and families affected by cancer,” said Bill Lobb, event co-chair. “It’s just mind-boggling.”
Relay participants walk throughout the night to symbolize the hard-fought journey that is a cancer diagnosis, to honor patients and families living with the disease, as well as to honor those who have lost their fight.
You do not need to be registered to participate. In fact, organizers encourage anyone who is interested to simply show up.
“You don’t have to be on a team to be there,” said Yvonne Eisenberg, co-chairwoman for Augusta County Relay for Life. “You can walk and not be on a team — just show up. We just want [you] there to celebrate life.”
This year’s opening ceremony will feature a color guard presentation and the national anthem sung by Colton Berry, of “American Idol” fame. Following the opening, a mother will share the intimate story of her daughter’s experience with cancer.
A Survivor’s Lap kicks off every Relay for Life, honoring those who are winning the struggle with the disease. Following is a Survivor Reception, with entertainment provided by Faithful Men and the Beverley Manor Middle School’s Children’s Choir.
Special activities are planned throughout the night, including a Womanless Beauty Contest, Trashy Fashion Show, Big Hair Contest and a hula-hoop competition. Children will be entertained with a long list of games, pony rides and inflatable bounce toys. Music will be provided by local musicians, as well as an opportunity to try your hand at karaoke.
Those walking this year are encouraged to choose a color theme for their team, as a celebration of Augusta’s 10th year participating in Relay for Life. Colors are associated with the many different types of cancer.
As dusk descends, Relay for Lifers hold the Remembrance Ceremony. The group will light candles to remember loved ones lost to cancer, as well as to honor those who are still waging the personal war. Luminaria bags may be purchased online or at Beverley Manor Middle School up until 7:30 p.m. the night of the walk.
A Power Point presentation will also play throughout the night, featuring photographs of survivors and victims of cancer.
The closing ceremony, entitled Fight Back, wraps up this year’s Relay for Life. Participants are given a flag to take home as a representation of their promise to continue the fight against cancer in the coming year.
“We all have countless friends and
relatives — we all know somebody who has cancer,” said Kelly Singleton, media relations spokesperson for the Augusta County Relay for Life. “You do, we all do, and I want to see a cure for cancer in my lifetime. I don’t want my kids to hear those terrible words, ‘You have cancer.’ ”
Relay for Life events go to fund cancer education, research and treatment. Programs funded include Road to Recovery, which aids cancer patients in obtaining transportation to doctor appointments and treatments; Reach to Recovery, where volunteers visit newly diagnosed breast cancer patients to offer support; Look Good and Feel Better, which provides advice about cosmetic issues associated with chemotherapy and radiation; I Can Cope, a free patient education program about living with cancer; Tell a Friend, a program designed to encourage women to receive regular mammograms; Man to Man, a prostate education and support outlet for men and families living with prostate cancer; Make Yours a Fresh Start Family, a smoking cessation intervention program; and Teens Against Tobacco Use.
In addition, funds raised through Relay for Life events and donations also provide scholarships for students who are cancer survivors, temporary housing for families and patients going through cancer treatments, as well as research, education and advocacy for the American Cancer Society.
“I am a breast cancer survivor of eight years,” shared Eisenberg. “I just have a real strong desire to help others in the community. To see that they hopefully are given the best medical and health care treatments that they can get in our community. Having these programs insures that patients do get these treatments.”
More than 1,100 have already signed up for this year’s Relay for Life. Organizers expect the final number to reach 1,500-2,000 by Friday.
For more information or to learn how you can become involved, visit http://www.acsrelay.org.