Howard Co. Relay For Life Unites Columbia to Fight Back Against Cancer: Survivors Invited – Volunteers Needed!

Howard County Relay For Life, Fri., June 6, 6 p.m. 

Long Reach High School, 6101 Old Dobbin Lane, Columbia

Cancer survivors who would like to attend the Survivors dinner and lap, please RSVP.  For more info, www.RelayForLife.org/howardcomd or email leigh.betancourt@cancer.org or call (301)562-3612.

      Like so many Columbia area families, Cheryl Bell’s has battled cancer and lost loved ones.  Cheryl, who comes from a large family, lost her beloved grandmother to breast cancer 17 years ago.  “My grandmother was my best friend.  I spoke to her several times a week for a couple hours a day.  She has ten children, more than 60 grandchildren, and everyone adored her.” 

It was her grandmother’s second bout of breast cancer at age 83 that took her life.  Cheryl also has two aunts and two cousins who’ve battled breast cancer, two uncles and a cousin who are prostate cancer survivors, a cousin who survived lung cancer and a cousin who had skin cancer. 

So when one of her breast cancer survivor aunts encouraged her to join the Howard County Relay For Life to fight back against cancer, Cheryl jumped in with both feet, and by the following year had organized a large family Relay team named “Superstar Walkers.” 

“Some years, we’ve had 40 members on our team,” says Cheryl, who served as the Howard County Relay’s chairperson twice and is playing a major role on the Relay committee for 2014.

Relay For Life is an overnight event that takes place at local schools, parks or fairgrounds across the country – there are Relays in more than 5,200 communities with more than 4 million participants. 

“Being part of Relay is an opportunity to see that there are so many people willing to fight for a cure for cancer.   Community organizations, schools and family teams attend,” says Mae A. Beale, who joined the Howard County Relay in 2013 and has also lost dear ones to cancer. 

“Since cancer never sleeps, Relays last overnight and teams take turns walking around a track,” describes Leigh Betancourt, American Cancer Society specialist for the Howard County Relay For Life that takes place on June 7 at Long Reach High School in Columbia.  “People don’t have to stay overnight but many do and have a great time.  We have activities, entertainment and games all night to keep people going.”  These include bands, Zumba, food, crafts, face painting and plenty for children to do.

“Relay is a life-changing experience,” says Cheryl.  “I love the camaraderie of fighting back against cancer together.   We make long-lasting friendships.  It’s so much fun to camp out at night.  My family makes it into a family event as well as a fundraiser.”

For example, Cheryl’s family runs a late night café at Relay featuring hot beverages, doughnuts and bagels as a fundraiser.   During the year, they host a Bowling for Life tournament at a local bowling alley, raising money for Relay. 

                Every Relay features a fantastic Survivors dinner followed by a Survivors Lap around the track to celebrate them.  “All survivors in the community are invited for free,” says Relay volunteer Mae A. Beale, who organized last’s year’s Survivors dinner.  “We have a big dinner with beautiful table settings, delicious catered food and flowers at every table.  Local students are greeters and serve, catering to our guests every desire,” says Mae, who worked with community organizations and Howard County General Hospital to invite as many survivors as possible.

Shortly after dark, Relay holds a Luminaria Ceremony to remember loved ones lost to cancer and honor those still battling.  “The Luminaria is one of the most awe-inspiring things I’ve ever experienced,” says Cheryl.   “Hundreds of flickering white bags and torches line the walkway while Relay participants walk slowly in silence around the track.  Hands are held, tears are shed, and memories are brought back to life for a short moment,” says Leigh.

 “We invite all the cancer survivors who live in the area to come to our Howard County Relay For Life, walk the Survivors Lap, and enjoy the activities.  The atmosphere is welcoming and spirit-lifting,” says Leigh.

“It’s one big happy family at Relay,” says Mae.  “We are passionate.”

Funds raised from Relay For Life provide free American Cancer Society programs and services for cancer patients and their families such as Reach to Recovery, Road to Recovery and Look Good, Feel Better and also support the Society’s 24/7 cancer resource hotline which patients, their loved ones and the community can call anytime for information on cancer.   The American Cancer Society is also the largest funder of cancer research outside the Federal Government spending more than $130 million annually to help find cures and has provided grants to 47 Nobel Prize winners.

The American Cancer Society celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2013 and needs Relay For Life volunteers to help make this cancer’s last century!

Leigh says,   “It’s easy to form a team.  Talk to your friends and family.  Cancer is something that literally affects everyone.  They’ll be immediately onboard.”

Western Howard Co. Relay For Life Offers 2nd Nearby Location

Friday, June 13, 6 p.m.

Western Regional Park, Woodbine, MD

Contact:  Najia.hasan@cancer.org or call 301-562-3616.

Paula Forman of Glenwood knows what it’s like to have a child diagnosed with brain cancer and then have that child’s life saved thanks to the miracles of modern cancer treatment.  That’s why she’s been on the organizing committee for the Western Howard County Relay For Life for seven years and is this year’s co-chair.  “Relay is a nice way to help save lives through a community event,” says Paula, whose son is now in college.  “Come join the fight.”