Walking the walk

STAUNTON — The track at Beverley Manor Middle School in Staunton had a festival atmosphere — with music, dancing, costumes, games and food — as darkness fell Friday night. However, when the luminary ceremony began, a hush swept over the event as everyone stopped to honor and remember those who have inspired a decade of Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro Relays for Life – those affected by cancer.
The local Relay for Life, one of the primary fundraising events for the American Cancer Society, turned 10 years old in 2008. According to organizers, Friday’s all-night celebration continued the tradition of bringing the community together to fight against a disease that touches everyone.
“We’re all out here for one reason – to find a cure for cancer,” said Relay for Life Co-Chairwoman Yvonne Eisenberg. “I think we’ve got a great turnout here today. Cancer affects everyone – everyone is touched by it somehow.”
Eisenberg estimated that Relay for Life has raised $140,000 for the American Cancer Society so far, with a goal this year of $200,000. Fundraising will continue until August. Much of the money raised by the Augusta County Relay for Life event will go to local organizations affiliated with the American Cancer Society, providing comfort, care and hope for area residents afflicted with cancer.
“The American Cancer Society has done so much for so many years in terms of education, in terms of research, in terms of community support, all of those things which are really huge,” said Meg Shrader, a member of the Augusta County Relay for Life committee. “It gives people in communities resources that they might not ordinarily have access to, programs through Augusta Medical Center and so on. It’s a very meaningful organization and gives a lot back.”
Relay for Life honored survivors and their caregivers with two special laps around the track at the opening of the event, as well as a celebratory reception inside Beverley Manor and luminaries lit during a sunset ceremony to honor those who have been affected by cancer.
For many survivors involved with Relay for Life – including Eisenberg and Shrader, both breast cancer survivors – the importance of their work with the organization transcends their individual struggles with the disease.
“I attended my first [Relay] when I was going through chemotherapy, and I’ve been here ever since,” Eisenberg said. “I’ve got a lot of family history of cancer, and I just feel like this is an important thing to support. I’ve got children and grandchildren and I want to do the best for them, and I feel like everyone deserves the best treatment and care we can provide.”
Shrader, whose grandfather and mother passed away from cancer, has been a lifelong supporter of the American Cancer Society.
“I’ve done Relay every year that it’s been in Augusta County, except the year that I was with my mother when she was actively dying of cancer, and the year I was in treatment,” Shrader said. “I think the survivors’ lap and the caregivers’ lap are just so incredible, because it gives people that have been diagnosed real hope to see survivors of their particular disease who have been living for 5, 10, 25 years. It provides such tremendous community support.”
Relay for Life committee member Brenda Hassett, who became involved with Relay for Life at work, was inspired to donate her time by her parents’ struggle with cancer.
“When you see all the survivors here, it’s just amazing,” she said. “It’s incredible how far we’ve come in finding the cure. We’ve just got to keep working at it.”