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A reason to participate in Relay For Life 2007 |
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Written by Jen Schmidt/Special to the World
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Thursday, 16 August 2007 |
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As the director of Incline Village’s Relay for Life, Ginny Moore and her husband, Dick, are involved for a very personal reason.
Early in 2006, their nephew, Bill Kiser, was diagnosed with a particularly aggressive form of Hodgkin’s disease, at a devastating stage 4B. Bill was in his mid-30’s, married with two young boys, and had just started his own company.
He has spent the last year and a half fighting cancer.
Bill’s first chemotherapy was not successful so he then had “salvage” chemo, Moore said. He then underwent stem cell replacement, using his own stem cells.
After this grueling, debilitating therapy — away from his family because of the risk of infection — he still had one tumor remaining. This spring, he was given radiation treatments that were focused on this one particular area and this treatment appears to have been successful.
He now looks forward to summer with Alyson, Josh and Brady — and slowly getting back to work, Moore said.
Bill’s story is why donating to the American Cancer Society Relay For Life is so important, said Moore.
The work of the American Cancer Society over many decades has helped make amazing strides against this disease and led to valuable new treatments such as those described above, she said.
Today, the number of people dying from cancer is dropping, she said.
Relay for Life will take place in Incline Village beginning at 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17, and will continue through 7 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at Preston Field.
Several teams will be participating in Relay for Life by soliciting donors and walking the track throughout the night.
There are currently 16 teams participating.
The moving reasons behind some of the teams’ motivation to do Relay for Life can be seen on the Relay for Life Web site, acsevents.org/relay/nv/nlt.
Relay For Life offers the newly diagnosed an opportunity to meet others who have survived cancer. It gives the cancer patient in treatment the opportunity to share experiences with others.
For long-term survivors, it brings recognition that the community cares not only about their experiences, but also about the hope they offer those beginning a journey with cancer, she said.
The community can be involved in Relay for Life by attending the event to support the teams walking the track to raise money, purchasing a luminaria to remember a cancer survivor or victim and donating to the cause. For information, visit acsevents.org/relay/nv/nlt.
Event Schedule at Preston Field
4 p.m. Opening Welcome
4:15 p.m. Music by local artists
5:15 p.m. Opening Ceremony/Color Guard
5:30 p.m. Tahoe Players
6 p.m. Survivor’s Lap
6:10 p.m. Teams take the track/music by local artists
6:30 p.m. Dinner service starts ($5/per person)
6:30 p.m. Mark Twain
7 p.m. Wayne Ferguson, magician
7:45 p.m. Salsa band and dancing
8:30 p.m. Music by local artists
9 p.m. Luminaria ceremony
9:15 p.m. Music by local artists
10 p.m. - 7 a.m. Quiet time as teams walk throughout the night
Making a difference
One person can make a difference. Nowhere is that more evident than with the story of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, which began in Tacoma, Wash. In the mid-1980s, Dr. Gordy Klatt, a Tacoma colorectal surgeon, wanted to enhance the income of his local American Cancer Society office and to show support for his patients who had battled cancer. He decided to personally raise money for the fight by doing something he enjoyed — running marathons.
In May 1985, Dr. Klatt spent a grueling 24 hours circling the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. He ran for more than 83 miles. That first year, nearly 300 of Dr. Klatt’s friends, family and patients watched as he ran and walked the course. Throughout the night, friends donated $25 to run or walk with Dr. Klatt for 30 minutes. His efforts raised $27,000 to fight cancer.
While circling the track during those 24 hours, Dr. Klatt thought about how others could take part in his mission to fight cancer. He envisioned a 24-hour team relay event that could raise more money to fight cancer. Over the next few months, he pulled together a small committee to plan the first team relay event known as the City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer.
In 1986, with the help of Pat Flynn — now known as the “Mother of Relay” — 19 teams took part in the first team relay event on the track at the colorful, historical Stadium Bowl and raised $33,000. An indescribable spirit prevailed at the track and in the tents that dotted the infield.
— Relay for Life speaking points 2007
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