Relay for Life had spirit to spare

Published 12:58 pm Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Bernita Howard of Issaquah waited to take to the track for the Survivor’s lap with her daughter. Both women have had breast cancer. Not only that, both her grandparents, two aunts on her father’s side, her mom and dad and her husband all died of cancer.

“The only one who hasn’t had it is my 19-year-old grandson,” Howard said.

She said her husband had pancreatic cancer, her father abdominal cancer, and her mother had breast cancer that metastasized to her brain, which is what killed her.

Then there was Chan Beauvais, the father of two young children, who is one of few who survived lung cancer, the cancer which has one of the lowest survival rates. They were all at the Issaquah Relay for Life Friday evening, June 7, held on the Issaquah High School field for the first time in several years.

With brand-new high-dollar turf on the field, organizers could not stress enough that the only thing to be consumed on the field was water. Food concessions and restrooms were located just off the field, since Relay events are all night. Co-chair Gwen Schweitzer said the really special thing about the Issaquah Relay was the people. All told, there were about 900 gathered, most of them high school students out to support a good cause.

The Issaquah Relay raised $258,000 (and counting) for cancer research. Relay for Life, a function of the American Cancer Society, started right here in Washington State, the brainchild of Dr. Gordy Klatt of Tacoma. Now, more than 4 million people in over 20 countries raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer. Teams must keep one person walking on the track all night because “cancer never sleeps.”

Cancer researcher with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Dr. John Chevillet, spoke to the crowd before race time.

“Because of you and the funds you raise, I’ve been able to do more creative cancer research,” Chevillet said. “Funding from the American Cancer Society in an outstanding way of receiving support.”

He added that Relay is especially important for fundraising when the government is having so much trouble funding bio-medical research. Right now Chevillet is working on developing a blood test using a new molecule to identify certain types of cancer.

Volunteers were also signing up people for a new study, CPS3, or Cancer Prevention Study 3. CPS1 resulted in evidence that smoking caused lung cancer. CPS3 will monitor participants between ages 30 and 65 to study how their lifestyle choices affect cancer. You must not have been diagnosed with cancer before to be in the study. By about 7:30 p.m. volunteer Frank Perniola said his group had signed up 30 people for the study, but in the end 107 had signed up.

Colorful costumes, vendor’s booths and tents of every kind dotted the field, creating a carnival like atmosphere. The number of youth that participated in Relay was impressive.

“Got Hope” team captain Rddhi Moodliar, a 2003 IHS graduate, started participating in Relay in the eighth grade.

“The day of my first Relay, my grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer,” she said.

He’s still alive, receiving treatment in his native India.

Stylist Aaron Ness, cut off 10-inches of Samantha Cook’s hair for Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths program, which donates the hair to make wigs for cancer patients. Cook is a senior at IHS.

Lung cancer survivor, Chan Beauvais, dances with his 4-year-old son, Jayden, before the survivor’s lap at Relay for Life, Issaquah. His daughter, Amber, 10, is behind them.

Cousins Lanette, left, and Jenn Gonzaga, decked out in colorful tutus were chaperones at Friday’s Relay for Life at Issaquah High School.

Girls perform a stunt while cheering cancer survivors as they make the ceremonial first lap at Relay for Life, Issaquah.

A group of girls attempt to put up their tent at Relay for Life, Issaquah.

The IHS field, with participants “campsites” set up. Relay for Life is an overnight event.