Banded together, staying the course
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on May 20, 2018 3:05 AM
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Glowing luminaries, each with the name of a loved one affected by cancer, are lined up on the bleachers during the annual Relay for Life Friday night.
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Randy Godwin and Danielle Street chop up turkey at the "Walkie Talkies" booth Friday night at the annual Relay for Life. Although the threat of rain might have kept some people away many dedicated teams showed up to raise money for the organization looking for a cure for cancer.
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Survivors prepare to take their first lap around the track during the annual Relay for Life event at the Wayne County Fairgrounds Friday night.
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Eugenia Smith folds Relay for Life shirts under a tent as her team prepares for the night's festivities.
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Azlynn Millard sets up a ladder in memory of Steven Harris Friday at the annual Relay for Life. Luminaries and ladders were moved off of the track and under the pavilion because of the threat of rain.
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Honorary survivor Vicki Terrell watches as the Flame of Hope burns during the opening ceremony for the annual Relay for Life Friday night at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Kylee Wise, 15, uses her cell phone to take a picture of her uncles' luminaries during Relay for Life Friday night at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Caroline Williamson, 4, takes a bite out of an ear of corn being held by her father Jeremy Friday night at Relay for Life.
The skies darkened and the wind picked up Friday evening but the faithful did what they do every year when Relay for Life rolls around -- banded together and stayed the course in the fight against cancer.
Helen Carlton showed up for her sister, a cancer survivor diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011.
Brenda Artis championed her mom, who passed away last November but prior to that had been a breast cancer survivor for 12-plus years.
The women -- members of St. Mark Free Will Baptist Church in Mount Olive -- set up their booth at the event indoors this year, just in case the threatening clouds burst.
"I'm the team chairperson for my church," Artis said. "We have a wonderful group of ladies at our church."
Their booth featured a catchy poster with the message, "We're not nuts about cancer so we are 'moooving' it out one lick at a time." The play on words represented some of the items available for purchase at the booth -- moon pies, peanuts, gourmet lollipops and bottled water.
"It helps us raise money for people that have cancer," Artis said, explaining that cancer patients are typically socked with mounting bills for treatment, for hotels and sometimes for transportation.
Glenn and Karen Rains have been Relay supporters for more than 30 years, helping where needed but especially with their church booth, Daniels Memorial United Methodist.
"We're just selling lemonade and cookies," Karen said.
Like many others, the cause got personal.
"Ever since (Glenn's) daddy had cancer, in 1984," she said. "Once it hits your family, you just do it (volunteer)."
In a lawn chair nearby, Amy Hooker pulled husks off ears of corn -- "shucking for a cure," she said with a smile, tossing one inside a tent for grilling.
She estimated they were prepared to cook between 250 and 300 at the event.
A nurse at Wayne Radiation Oncology Center, she has seen countless cancer patients come through the office doors but nearly three and a half years ago, her son, Chase, was diagnosed.
"He's doing good," she said, as the boy ran past. "He just completed his chemo April 15. We got to ring the bell."
Now 7 1/2 years old, he turned 4 when he was first diagnosed, she said. He has experienced challenges and setbacks in the time since, but appears to have turned a corner.
"He's full of energy, he can play outside, he's happy -- he's our reason to Relay," Amy said.
Dale Bevell also had his own testimonial for the event, especially since wife, Laura, was diagnosed with cancer in 2004. She was 39 years old.
She hadn't been active in Relay prior to that, he said, but over time it "kind of grew on her," he said.
She drew strength from others and in turn, chooses to pass that along to others.
The couple runs a "Team Bevell" booth, which features a popular lollipop tree and the potential to win gift cards.
"Kids love that thing," Dale said, adding, "Relay is a lot of good people coming together to support a great cause."
Even Brenda Robinson, community development manager for the American Cancer Society event, had a booth, selling turkey legs, desserts such as chew bread and brownies, as well as plastic bracelets.
Wendi Hawley of Wilson traveled to Wayne County to be at the booth while Robinson took care of her responsibilities.
"My husband is Brenda's cousin and his brother died -- he had leukemia, but he was in a motorcycle accident," Hawley said.
The booth wasn't in the usual spot Robinson had in mind, dictated by rains earlier in the day, she said.
"It fell a flood out here this morning," she said, pointing to the end of the track, which had been "4 inches under water.""
"Some of the teams didn't want to set up out here, so they moved inside," she said. "We've got the bounce house in there for the kids.
"I'm sure a lot of people are not coming because they think it's not going on, but it is."
Most spirits were not dampened by the changing forecast, like first-time team and vendor Keith Carter, grilling beneath a covering in honor of his father, Melvin Carter.
"My father has got cancer. He just finished his treatment," Keith said. "He's doing good."
Melvin said he was diagnosed about a year ago.
"It was prostate to start with. While they were checking for that, they were doing a positron-emmission tomography (PET) scan and found a place in my lung and they removed a quarter of it," he said. "I have been doing much better. I had really good people (helping)."
He's a tough one, said Kay Ruth Cain, who came out to support the Carters with husband, Wayne.
"He's a good man," she said of Melvin. "He's tough as nails."
Tri-leads for the event, Paula Cox, Ashley Woodard and Vicki Terrell, who also served as this year's honorary chairperson, agreed that despite the "iffy" weather, those in the audience were appreciated.
"This is an amazing gathering," Cox said.
"We're all here for the same reason -- to finish the fight against cancer.
"It's a life-changing journey. They'll celebrate those that have battled cancer, remember people that they have lost and renew the battle to fight back."
Woodard said that even though the climate hadn't been the best, like the turnout of survivors and caregivers, they would make it through.
The important thing was raising money that will go to important elements in the effort to eradicate cancer -- research and support for those who are diagnosed and require treatment.
Terrell had been involved with Relay for Life long before her family was affected directly, years before she would face her own diagnosis.
She recalled the early days, with Dr. Lee Adams, affectionately called "Doc," had introduced the walk/run/swim event at the YMCA, which later moved to Eastern Wayne High School and then Wayne Community College before relocating to the fairgrounds.
In 1994, her grandmother had lung cancer, passing away three months after being diagnosed.
Terrell's story has had a happier outcome.
Diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2005, she said she was honored to be part of the event's leadership team as well as its honorary chairperson this year.
There are still opportunities to donate to the cause, Robinson said. Visit the website, relayforlife.org.