If you’ve never attended the annual McLeod County Relay for Life, I urge you to do so. It’s one of the most moving events you’ll ever spend time at.

From beginning to end, it’s an amazing experience to see so many people involved in the fight against cancer. There are teams of all kinds walking the path in memory of someone who has died of cancer as well as those who are walking to honor a survivor.

Luminaries — thousands of candle-lit white bags each bearing the name of someone who had cancer — is a visual reminder of the impact this disease has on our society. During the hours of darkness, the bags form a haunting ribbon of light that marks the path that teams will tread.

When I attended the Relay, I was most touched by the Survivor Walk, where men, women and children who have overcome cancer are introduced to the crowd. It was an honor to clap and cheer in recognition of each person’s victory over cancer.

To me, every survivor is a hero. Forget the celluloid antics of Ironman and the Incredible Hulk. They have nothing over those who day in and day out face the challenge of surgery, and rounds of chemotherapy and radiation to fight a deadly foe.

Nobody asks for cancer, but it comes like a thief in the night, sneaking in where it’s not wanted and stealing the life of its host cell by cell.

If you go
McLeod County Relay for Life
When: Friday, Aug. 1, and runs through 7 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 2
Where: Masonic-West River Park in Hutchinson.
Schedule:
5 p.m. entertainment
6 p.m. Survivor’s Reception
7 p.m. Opening Ceremony and Celebration Lap
9 p.m. Ceremony of Hope and lighting of candles
6 a.m. park clean up and closing ceremony.
Call: Missy Wiedow at (952) 657-2299, or Barb Eitel at (320) 562-2603

To read the complete story with survivor interviews, see the print edition of the Hutchinson Leader for Tuesday, July 29, 2008.

(Kay Johnson is a staff writer at the Hutchinson Leader. She can be reached at johnson@hutchinsonleader.com [2]).