by Carl BR Johnson
June 3, 2013
Photo by Carl BR Johnson — Supporters are holding the banner during the first walk around the track and are flanked by two RCMP officers, Const. Harriet Samuel, far left, and Cpl. Jodie Shelkie, far right.
The Relay for Life relayed a resounding message of hope for cancer survivors on Saturday.
Survivors and volunteers took part in a relay where they walked around a 400-metre track at the Dr. Kearney Middle School field.
The fundraising event for the Canadian Cancer Society challenged teams to walk or run the track for twelve hours – from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m..
According to its organizers, this exercise in endurance was put together in defiance of the affliction that slays thousands every year.
With breaks in-between walks or runs and the sun shining brightly, many walked and pledged their time and money, all in the name of thumbing their nose at cancer.
The fundraising goal for this year was $100,000 and as of Friday, $80,000 had been raised for the society.
Brenda Baumeister, who has been coordinating the event in the city for four years, said, “the survivors are the real heroes.”
“The people who are still fighting cancer, those survivors are who we need to show support to,” said Baumeister.
Sherry Loney, a good friend of Baumeister’s, was recently diagnosed with cancer.
Baumeister said her primary motivation for organizing this event was because of Loney.
“She (Loney) was very close to me, and she really got me going to help the Canadian Cancer Society,” she said.
“Our theme for this year’s event is Heroes of Hope.”
Nakisha Bauer is just such a hero.
The 18-year old was the keynote speaker at the Relay who had lost her left leg, just above the knee, to cancer.
She said she wanted to be the keynote speaker to talk about her struggles and participate in the event because, “I had overcome cancer.”
“By turning that victory to my advantage, cancer has motivated me to do everything that I want to in life,” she said.
Despite her difficulty with walking via a prosthetic leg, she said she will be walking around the track with everyone else.
“I’ll be walking as many laps as I can,” she said.
When she spoke during the opening ceremony, her message of hope was heard as she relayed her defiance for her cancer’s radiation treatments.
“I looked at my bald head and I thought, you know what? I look beautiful,” she said over the loudspeaker to everyone there.
The applause given by hundreds was deafening.
After her speech, her stepfather, Nelson Stowe, took the stage and read aloud a poem and talked about the support his wife, Melissa – Nakisha’s mother – showed towards her daughter during her ordeal.
“Melissa was unfaltering in her support during Nakisha’s cancer treatments,” said Stowe.
After the ceremony, two RCMP officers, Cpl. Jodie Shelkie and Const. Harriet Samuel, opened the Relay by walking a lap with a 15-foot banner that read “Banner of Hope” with many supporters behind them.
Throughout the day, there were singing acts, dancing events and tents set up all around the track that represented the various teams who signed up to participate and donate.
More than 35 teams came out to show their support, including Subway, Spectra Energy, McElhanney, TCL Oilfield Hauling and Trail Blaz’N Power Ltd..
Many of the teams were comprised of small groups of private citizens, like T’s Earth Angels, Team Patsy, MGM Crusaders and Cancer Samureyes.
Marion Jarvis, another participant and retiree, wore a bright yellow t-shirt to signify that she was a cancer survivor.
She was walking the track with everyone else after the opening ceremony and has been breast cancer-free for about a year.
“I feel fantastic now,” she said proudly.
“It (the cancer) was totally unexpected because it doesn’t run in the family.”
She said she came out to the event to show her defiance for cancer and to show her support for the many other survivors who attended with her.
“I’m really excited to be here.”
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