American Cancer Society's Relay For Life/Mission Viejo Kicked-off.

The American Cancer Society’s, Relay for Life of Mission Viejo themed “Paint Your World Purple” kicked-off on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016 at The Norman P. Murray Community Center.

“Paint Your World Purple,” (the national theme for ACS, RFL) got underway as event volunteers and participants rallied to launch fundraising efforts for the year. Denise Matson, Event Lead and Steve Bell, Entertainment Chair welcomed everyone to the event. Matson announced that our local theme for the year is a country-fair-theme.

“Our goal is to recruit more than 48 teams and honor more than 100 survivors at the opening ceremony of Relay for Life in June, fight against cancer and raise $116,000 this year,” Matson told the crowd.

Matson shared the news that Team Tricia was the Top Fundraising Team for 2015 and Leslyn Cicekli was the individual who raised the most money.

Committee members manned tables with information on starting a team, getting registered, luminaria, cancer and survivor/caregiver support. At each table participants could get their scorecards stamped for an opportunity to win a prize.

More than 100 guests including committee members wearing their favorite, country-attire enjoyed a chili extravaganza and desserts. A chili competition awarded Megan Pierce with the Spiciest Chili and Nancy Hermann with the Most Unusual Chili.

The featured speakers were Hero of Hope and cancer survivor, Sheila Boswell; and Dr. Christine Suetterlin, ACS funded researcher and cancer survivor.

Boswell said, “I am one in a million, I was diagnosed with stage four appendiceal cancer in May 2012. I had no symptoms. A small tumor was found during a routine check-up that had spread from my appendix to my ovary and other organs.”

She added, “A cancer diagnosis can complicate life, but it can bring simplicity. When fear and anger creep in, I work on replacing them with faith, hope and love. Right now, I am living with cancer. I am living, really living! I don’t know what the future holds, but I know it is time to celebrate life, time to celebrate love.

Later, Dr. Suetterlin, a cell biologist at the University Of California Irvine spoke. She received her Ph.D at the University of Basel, Switzerland in Biochemistry.

Dr. Suetterlin informed us that through an American Cancer Society Research Grant, she has investigated and studied how Chlamydia contributes to cancer through centrosome dysregulation.

“Centersomes are organelles (membrane bound) that are found in the center of the cells. Centersome abnormality is what we see in cancer. Women who have had Chlamydia may be at higher risk of having cervical cancer.”

Dr. Suetterlin continued, “Tonight, I wear two hats, one as a cell biologist and the other as a cancer survivor. Last year, I was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer called Her2. The tumor was so large it couldn’t be surgical removed. However, by taking Herceptin, a drug that shuts off the protein the tumor shrunk. At the end of September, I had surgery and I am facing another one in March. Years ago that would not have even been possible.”

The audience was on their feet to applaud Boswell and Dr. Suetterlin’s courage and inspiration.

If you want to participate and fight against cancer in Mission Viejo’s 24-hour-overnight, walk on June 4 and 5, 2016 at Saddleback College go to www.mvrelay.org,www.facebook.com/mvrelay or twitter @mv_RelayForLife.

For more information please call, Denise Matson at 949-933-0732 or email denisematson17@gmail.com. Also, feel free to call Margot Ferron/ Marketing/Publicity Chair at 949/309-1235 or gomargotgo@aol.com.