By Jordan Studer
jstuder@wbcowqel.com
As the cancer survivors, their caregivers, and those still battling cancer took their final laps around the track, the energy was high. Cheers, cowbells, and claps filled the air surrounding the track to show them that whether they have won the battle or are in the midst of it, there will always be someone there to cheer them on and hold their hand.
Families of survivors showed their consistent support for their fighter by holding hands throughout the laps being taken. It was clear that the family member’s fight brought out the inseparable bonds that were tightened.
According to Deb Hilborn, community manager for Relay For Life, 20 teams came to their walk this year and gave all their efforts to help the cause. During the closing ceremonies, the teams were rewarded various awards for their hard work and contributions.
When asking Hilborn Saturday morning if the event was all they had hoped for it to be, she replied, “It went well, we didn’t have a whole lot of community people out. Which is a little disappointing because you work really hard all year to come out. So our attendance was down. Being $20,000 away from our goal, we hope that people still will donate to teams or even to the Relay For Life. Our website will be open and up until September 1.”
This year for their walk, Relay For Life of Crawford County fought back and raised over $54,000 thus far. Their overall goal is to raise $78,000 and they have very high hopes that the community will pitch in for the amazing cause, until their deadline of August 31.
Asking Hilborn if there was anything she would like to get out to the community, her response was filled with passion.
“We’d just like to get more people involved. That’s what we really want to stress – to get more people, get more teams, get this back to where it was. Where we have teams here that stay all night and the true meaning of what it’s about. I mean it’s supposed to represent the cancer patient’s journey. From the day they are diagnosed, until the end of their journey. So, you know, like them we get tired and don’t want to go on, but then we see the sun come up and realize we made it another day and we’re almost there. So I hope people just kind of remember why we’re here,” Hilborn explained.
During the final lap taken to “celebrate, remember, and fight back,” the faces that were filled with excitement the night before were suddenly taken over by a new look. Exhaustion had set in, but the feeling of accomplishment was also showing through. The teams had fought one night for those that are battling, but they are not stopping now.
Despite their exhaustion, the Relay For Life teams are already planning for next year. At the end of the closing ceremony they announced that the theme for the next annual walk will be Colors of Hope. Each team will be designated a certain cancer color to represent. They are anxious to begin and cannot wait to get the word out and get the community involved for another year.