Cancer fundraiser draws young and old
Published: Tuesday, June 23, 2009


Steve Gibbs struggles into an icy T-shirts as others still break theirs apart to win the frozen T-shirt contest during the Eastern Montgomery County Relay for Life at Hatboro-Horsham High School June 19.Photo by BOB RAINES

By Nick Malinowski
Staff Writer

With more than 80 teams and nearly 1,000 participants, the American Cancer Society’s 2009 Eastern Montgomery County Relay for Life was one of the best attended relays in the 10-year history of the local event.

“It’s the 10th year for Eastern Montgomery County and the 25th year of the American Cancer Society relay so it’s exciting for us,” American Cancer Society Staff Partner Lauren Wood said Tuesday.

This year’s theme was “Decades Make a Difference,” in honor of these milestones, she said.

Crowded into Hattters Stadium at Hatboro-Horsham High School June 19, the 24-hour walk-a-thon had a carnival atmosphere with music, raffles, silent auctions, food, live entertainment and tents of all sizes in the muddy infield where walkers could find shade and chat with friends and strangers alike.

“It’s such a wonderful experience, really a family event,” co-chairwoman Betsy Williams said June 19. “It could be a very sad event, but it’s not. It’s a very encouraging event. While it’s a fundraiser, it also brings people together to show that it’s not as bad as that one word ‘cancer.’ This is the silver lining.”

Williams first got involved with the relay four years ago after losing her mother to breast cancer.

“The first year I came it was the most moving experience I ever had. I think everyone feels that way — empowered. They are walking and their loved ones they’ve lost are here with them,” she said. “They feel like they are doing something. And the camaraderie, the friendship and the fellowship — you see that you are not alone.”

For one of the most veteran participants the day has a dual significance.

“It’s my 10th year [walking] and I’m 10 years cancer-free,” Pam Rue-Sheehan said.

Rue-Sheehan of Willow Grove chaired the event for five years and her children formed one of the 15 teams in the inaugural event to walk for her.

“To watch it grow like that is amazing,” she said. “It’s a great event. Makes you take the day off, sit and reflect. There is a lot of emotion. You hear a lot of laughter and there are a lot of tears. It’s an uplifting day and at times a very sad day.”

Even after 10 relays she is still inspired by something new each year, she said.

“I saw a group of girls, 14 to 16 years old, wearing survivor shirts and that just makes you stop,” she said. “But that’s great. It means what we are doing is working. There are more and more people in the survivor lap every year and that’s what we are working for.”

While Rue-Sheehan’s team was composed of friends and coworkers from Coldwell Banker Hearthside Realtors in Willow Grove, there were teams of all kinds representing families, churches, schools, businesses and other organizations.

“Cancer has no prejudice, it can hit any age, any race,” said Julie Brown with the Lehman Methodist Church of Hatboro. “I started three years ago after my father was diagnosed with cancer. It’s just comforting to know there are other people going through the same thing and seeing them not giving up the fight. It’s empowering — let’s you know you have some control.”

Kimberly Long of North Wales organized her group from family members living in the area. Although they are raising money, the Relay for Life is also an opportunity to honor survivors and bring people together, she said.

“We want to celebrate the survivors on our team,” Long said. “Here you meet strangers but you have a common bond and can relate to each other. It’s addicting to see this kind of unity.”

This interest from local residents was instrumental in bringing the event to the area 10 years ago and community members remain invested in growing and maintaining the event, Wood said. Last year the Eastern Montgomery County relay raised more money than all but 14 of the 221 relays statewide.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “Eastern Montgomery County is a very successful, wonderful event. The community is outstanding. They really want to make a difference.”

Thus far $211,000 has been raised through the local relay and the American Cancer Society will continue to collect donations through Aug. 31, Wood said.

A portion of these funds will go toward programs and patient services in Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, Wood said.

Two of the services used most often by local residents include the 24-hour hotline 1-800-ACS-2345, where callers can ask questions or find someone to talk to in the middle of the night and www.cancer.org an informational Web site, Wood said. The funds also support national services and research.

“To me it’s awesome. It raises awareness, it’s moving and does a lot of good things for the community of survivors,” Patty Kistenmacher of Crooked Billet Elementary School, said.