You're Invited to Relay For Life of Catonsville June 21 to Fight Back Against Cancer with the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society Needs You to Relay and Help Finish the Fight!

For Erika Herman, a teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School in Catonsville, fighting cancer is a family affair.  “Last year, my husband’s mother, Judy, passed away at age 62, following an eight-year battle with cancer,” says Erika.  “Six months before that, his grandfather died of melanoma.”

These two people who were very important in Erika’s life, not to mention her two young daughters’ and husband’s lives, are the main reasons she is the chairperson of the Survivor Committee for this year’s American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Catonsville.  “I want to celebrate the survivors who attend our Relay.  They deserve to be pampered and spoiled.  We provide them with a lovely dinner and a massage.  We’re inviting the community to donate ideas and services to help make this special for them,” she says.

Erika has participated in the Relay For Life for many years.  Her mother-in-law Judy did, as well, in Pennsylvania, where she lived.   Erika and her daughters walked the Survivors Lap at Relay with Judy twice while she was fighting her cancer.  “It was a way for her to say, ‘I’m here.  I’m a survivor,’” recalls Erika.  “The Survivors Lap is a way to celebrate life – every Relay has one – it’s joyful.  These people are in the process of overcoming cancer.”

Following Judy’s passing, Erika and her family honored Judy at the Catonsville Relay’s Luminaria Ceremony, along with many other friends and families who honor their loved ones battling cancer or whom they’ve lost to cancer.  “It was very moving, especially for my husband and his father,” says Erika.

There are also many fun, happy moments at Relay For Life.  “The slogan of Relay is ‘Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back,” explains Jackie Bowes, Catonsville Relay For Life specialist.  “Relay participants camp overnight at a local school, park, or fairground, and take turns walking or running a track or path.   The Catonsville Relay is at CCBC from Saturday, June 21 to the next morning.  Because cancer never sleeps, Relay events go overnight, lasting up to 24 hours.   People don’t have to stay all night, but many do.  We keep them going with fun activities like Zumba, scavenger hunts and more.  Families attend, bringing their kids and setting up campsites.  This year’s theme is the Wizard of Oz.   Our moving Luminaria Ceremony takes place after sundown. Participants circle a track surrounded by glowing luminaria bearing the names of loved ones.  Luminaria may be purchased by anyone.”

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.

Dr. Gordy Klatt, a cancer physician in Takoma, Washington, created Relay For Life in 1985 by walking and running a track for 24 hours to raise funds to fight cancer.  Since then, Relay For Life has become a phenomenon, taking place in more than 5,000 communities in the U.S. with approximately 4 million participants.  Dr. Klatt is now a cancer survivor himself.

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

Erika encourages the Catonsville and surrounding area to join Relay For Life.   “Many of my co-workers, families of students I’ve taught and others in the community have come into the fold and helped us out at Relay over the years.” 

Catonsville Relay For Life, Saturday, June 21, 6 p.m.

CCBC, 800 S. Rolling Road, Catonsville, Maryland

To join or for more information, see www.RelayForLife.org/catonsvillemd or call Jackie Bowes at Jackie.bowes@cancer.org or 410-933-5138.