‘A disease that takes too much and too many from us.?
That’s how Judy Royster described cancer during the Oxford Relay for Life’s Kickoff event held Tuesday night at the Oxford United Methodist Church.
Royster, who lost her father, Ken Acheson, to kidney cancer after a 2?-year battle, is chairing this year’s 24-hour relay scheduled for May 30-31 at the Oxford High School football stadium.
‘I felt helpless during those days as I watched my dad go through all of his treatments,? she said. ‘All I could do was hold his hand, give him a hug and remind him that his faith was bigger than any cancer cell could ever be.?
After her dad passed, Royster said, ‘Relay helped us with our grieving process more than I can ever say. It gave us a reason to fight back and to honor the memory of my father.?
Last year’s Relay for Life, which features teams of people walking around a track for 24 consecutive hours because ‘cancer never sleeps,? raised a total of $48,488 for the American Cancer Society with 14 teams. Royster’s hoping to increase both the dollars and the number of teams this year.
‘We look forward to relaying with you this year through the most inspiring, rewarding and fun Relay that Oxford has seen yet,? she said. ‘As a community, this year we plan to celebrate, remember and fight back against cancer.?
Throughout the 24-hour Relay for Life there’s musical entertainment, special ceremonies and wacky contests.
‘We want to get more people to actually come to Relay and enjoy the festivities,? Royster said. ‘It’s like a big county fair. Just 24 hours of fun.?
Oxford resident Suzanne Ardelan, owner of Curves for Women, spoke at the kickoff event about her battle with breast cancer over the last year and her motivation to participate in the upcoming Relay.
‘I relay for my two daughters (Libby and Julie) this year,? she said. ‘I’m running relay so that we can discover the cure and take the fear away from my daughters, who now are scared to death that they’re going to get breast cancer.?
During her chemotherapy treatments, Ardelan said she met women who were second and third-time cancer survivors. ‘I just don’t ever want to have it come back,? she said. ‘I would like to be done with it.?
Ardelan hopes one day cancer will be talked about like polio, something people used to get a long time ago, but don’t anymore.
Oxford High School student Jen Bizzotto spoke about the role of a Relay team captain and how to become one.
‘The most important role of the Relay is the team captain,? she said. ‘Without team captains there would be no teams and then there wouldn’t be a Relay.?
Last year, Bizzotto captained Team Munro, in honor of OHS English teacher Lynda Munro, who died of cancer in October 2008 at the age of 58. She plans to head the team again this year.
‘You wouldn’t think that a bunch of teenagers led by a teenager would be able to do as much as we did,? she said. ‘We spent two months just going at it.?
For more information about Oxford’s Relay for Life visit www.relayforlife.org/oxfordmi.
Erin Semmens is the American Cancer Society contact for this event and she can be reached by either calling (248) 663-3448 or e-mailing Erin.Semmens@cancer.org.