Remembering cancer survivors at Belleville Relay for Life

By Renée Rodgers

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (17/06/11) Brittany Williams, 18, was diagnosed with cancer 7 years ago. She participated in Relay for Life at Loyalist College June 17 and 18. Photo by Renee Rodgers.

The flicking of lighters was the only sound as more than 1,000 people gathered to light candles in honour of loved ones with cancer.

More than 3,000 candles placed in decorated paper bags lined the track at Relay for Life June 17 at Loyalist College. At 10 p.m. they were lit in unison as part of the annual 12-hour relay’s luminary ceremony.

“Each bag represents either someone that’s survived the disease or someone that’s passed away,” said Matthew Del Grosso, the area’s project coordinator. “You can tell by whether the bag says ‘In Memory’ or ‘In Honour’.”

The flickering candles illuminated the dark night. Something magical was in the air.

After the silence, bagpipers began to play Amazing Grace.

“It’s a time for people to remember those that have passed away from the disease,” said Del Grosso. “It’s a quiet time. It’s a somber time.”

More than 200 cancer survivors were distinguished at the event by their yellow t-shirts.

One survivor was Brittany Williams, 18, who was diagnosed with Berkins lymphoma seven years ago. Her relay team, Brittany’s Buddies, participated in both the Belleville and Picton events this year and raised about $2,000.

Williams’ cancer diagnosis began with a loose molar. Doctors found the rare type of cancer in her gums. The cancer, it turned out, was throughout Williams’ body.

“It was in my liver, my spleen,” she said. “It was stage four, too, so it was the worst type.”

Williams went through 10 rounds of chemotherapy. Her cancer went into remission in 2005. There has been no sign of its return.

“They say, with my type of cancer, after the five year mark you’re pretty good,” she said. “Then if you find no signs of it again you’re almost set for life.”

Williams plans to attend Trent University this fall. She hopes to become a teacher.

Many others attended the event in support of friends and family members who have suffered from the disease.

John and Rita Heffernan came as part of the Quinte Square Dancers team.

The couple has lost friends and family to cancer, including a member of their square dancing club who passed away last spring. The couple has had their own scares with cancer as well.

“My husband’s had a couple close calls,” Rita said. “But thank God, it was nothing.”

The team performed in the middle of the relay track as part of the evening’s celebrations.

Mel Donaldson, also part of the square dancing team, attended the event in honour of loved ones.

“My mother and two aunts died of cancer,” he said. “And a good friend died of cancer. I thought I’d try to help out a bit.”

Donaldson said he was inspired to see so many survivors at the event.

“It’s nice to see all those yellow shirts,” he said. “That wouldn’t have happened 30 years ago.”

The relay raised $252,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society, exceeding its goal by about $12,000. Del Grosso said the event has raised more than $3 million in the Belleville area since it began in 2001.

Money raised mainly goes toward cancer research.

“Just one research project on average for one year is $135,000,” said Del Grosso. “And projects are sometimes 20 years in the making before they come up with the results. Plus we fund over 125 research projects each year. So if you do the math, research gets very expensive.”

But Del Grosso said research is imperative to find a cure for the disease.

“Research is very expensive but that’s where the cure lies,” he said. “That’s where we’re going to be saving more people. If we didn’t do research anymore, that would say that we’re happy with 62 percent of people surviving their cancer diagnosis while 38 percent are not. That’s not good enough. We want to continue to decrease that number of 38 percent and have everybody survive their cancer diagnosis.”

The Canadian Cancer Society provides the public with free information about the disease. Call 1-888-939-3333.