Relay for Life: Time for celebration, remembrance
Published 4:10 pm Wednesday, April 4, 2018
- A lighted sign signifying what the event is all about: hoping for a cure for cancer.
By Ken Gustafson
AMERICUS — Several cancer survivors, their families, care givers and others came out to participate and celebrate the annual Relay for Life event held Friday, March 30, at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW).
Cancer survivors beginning the Relay for Life laps holding the sign ‘Survivors Celebrating Life.’
Several cancer survivors wearing purple shirts saying “Relay for Life 2018,” along with care givers and others, walked laps around the square in front of the administration building at GSW to raise money for the fight against cancer.
EATON, a lighting manufacturer, raised the most money during the Relay for Life event at GSW.
Cancer survivors registering to walk laps in the Relay for Life event.
Terry Westbury is on the committee for the local Sumter County Relay for Life. “This is a fundraiser event for the local chapter of Sumter County Relay for Life,” Westbury said. “We raise money for the American Cancer Society. This year, we partnered up with GSW and we’re doing it here on their campus.”
Gladiola Harris was diagnosed with Breast Cancer 12 years ago. However, she beat it and is cancer-free. Harris will turn 82 in May.
Lila Centerfitt was one of the event organizers. She said that luminaries, such as bags or torches, could be purchased in honor and memory of those who have died of cancer, or in honor of those still fighting the disease.
John Hofeldt was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2001. However, he was able to beat it and is cancer-free.
“The luminaries, people can buy either the bags or the torches, and they buy them in honor of or in memory of people that they have known that have had cancer,” Centerfitt said.
Cancer survivors registering to walk in the Relay for Life event at GSW.
Several cancer survivors were there walking the laps as part of the Relay for Life event. Shirley Mathis, who twice beat breast cancer, was part of a team called the Sumter County Angels, one of many teams there to walk laps and participate in the Relay for Life event. For Mathis, like many other cancer survivors, it meant a lot to be at the event.
Becky Bobbitt, Chairman of the event, Lila Centerfit and Terri Crawford.
“It means a lot to me because I know what I went through when I first had cancer the first time,” Mathis said. “The medical field was not as advanced as it is now. They’re more advanced now … There’s a lot going on, and I want to help everybody.” Bettye Floyd is the team captain of the Sumter County Angels. “We started this group, Sumter County Angels, probably about five or six years ago,” Floyd said. “I’m not Ke
Cancer survivors walking the laps in the Relay for Life event at GSW.
originally from here. I did Relay for Life in Worth County. When I moved here, we started Sumter County Angels. It was a group of people from work and my family, so we decided to do something to help raise money for cancer, so we just formed this group. Every year, we come out here and we sell stuff and we do different types of fundraisers to raise money.”
Noel and Darlene Schraufnagel are both cancer survivors. Noel was able to beat skin cancer. Darlene has survived uterine cancer. They came down to see their daughter, Darcy Bragg.
Gladiola Harris was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, but was able to beat it and has been free of it for the past 12 years.
Darcy Bragg, the Schraufnagels’ daughter, is an employee of Georgia Southwestern State University. She was on a team made up of GSW employees called Canes Cancer Fighters.
“It’s a blessing to be here,” Harris said. “The Lord kept me here. I’ll be 82 years old in May. I’m so thankful to be here and in good health. I’m able to take care of myself. It’s truly a blessing and I thank God.”
Both Linda Ethridge (left) and Tricia Tissue (right) were diagnosed with breast cancer and have survived it.
Another cancer survivor, John Hofeldt, was at the event walking the laps.
J.M. Wise (left) survived a bout with skin cancer. His wife Betty (right) survived colorectal cancer.
“I had prostate cancer way back in 2001. I’ve been OK ever since,” Hofeldt said. “I had a heart incident in 2004. I recovered from that. It’s nice to see that all these people have survived and they’re giving thanks for having survived. People are coming out to support them.”
A group of young women called the Sumter County Angels at Relay for Life to raise money for the fight against cancer. One of the Angels. Shirley Mathis, survived breast cancer twice. Left to right: Ashley Mathis, Bettye Floyd (Team Captain), Toynette Hill, Shay Jackson, Tanesha Hill, Breunna Floyd, Tasheia King, Brenda Jenkins. Shirley Mathis (cancer survivor) and Takashia King (care giver) are not in this picture.
There were other teams there to participate and raise money for the fight against cancer. One was a group of GSW employees called the Canes Cancer Fighters. Josh Curtin, team captain, said it was an honor to have the event on the GSW campus.
Shirley Mathis (left), a cancer survivor and Takashia King (care giver), are a part of the Sumter County Angels.
“We love it, and obviously, it’s an opportunity to connect with the institution,” Curtin said. “It’s a beautiful day and we can just really enjoy each other’s company. It’s just a good opportunity.”
Members of the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, left to right, Pamela Angry, Martha Savage, Sharon Smith, Barbara Bryant, Rayetta Volley, Juanita Wilson, Linda Harris (cancer survivor), Jacqueline Walker, Luneda Brown, Hollie Walters.
Noel and Darlene Schraufnagel, both cancer survivors, came down to see their daughter, Darcy Bragg. Bragg, an employee of GSW, was a member of the Canes Cancer Fighters team.
Luneda Brown (left) and Amanda Cooper (right) are part of a team raising money at Relay for Life called Walking with Poker.
The women of the local chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority at GSW, from left, Natasha Gulley, Amber Martin, Miranda Tyson and Kina Davis.
“I had uterine cancer twice. I was diagnosed in 2012 and it relapsed in 2016,” Darlene said. She said she assumes that she is free from cancer at this time. Her husband, Noel, is a survivor of skin cancer.
Luminary bags being lit in honor and memory of those who have fallen from and are still fighting cancer.
There were several groups there as well who set up booths along the walk-ways. The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority local chapter was there, as well as Sumter County Fire & Rescue.
Luminary torches lit in honor of those who have fallen and are still fighting cancer.
PharmaCentra/Concentra Solutions, a call center that employs a lot of college students, was well represented. One of representatives, Amy Parker, said that the company has a whole lot of programs to benefit people.
“We have a pharmacy locator program. We help people locate medications that are hard to find,” Parker said. “We have a prior authorization program. We’re a mediator, a go-between between the patient and the insurance plan. We help get authorizations. We help get authorizations for medications.”
Luminary bags lit to honor and remember those who have fallen from and who are fighting cancer.
There were other cancer survivors there as well.
Linda Etheridge and Tricia Tissue both recovered from breast cancer. J.M. Wise and his wife Betty also participated. J.M. is recovering from skin cancer, and Betty recovered from colorectal cancer.
A group called “Walking for Poker” participated in the Relay for Life event. Luneda Brown and Amanda Cooper were representing that group. There was also a group from Furlow Charter School and Jason Williams, assistant principal of the school, accompanied the group of students.
Bags having been lit to honor those who have fallen from and who are fighting cancer.
As night fell on Americus, it was time for the luminary ceremony. Before the ceremony, Rodney Prowe, assistant pastor of worship at Central Baptist Church, led the group in prayer. To begin the ceremony, each person was given a candle, and they were to light each other’s candle. There were luminary bags with candles inside them placed along two walkways. Each person with a lighted candle lit the candles inside the bags, creating two lighted avenues.
Bags being laminated in honor of those who have fallen from and who are still fighting cancer.
While this was going on, the names of those who had died from cancer, as well as those still fighting the disease, were read laoud as a way to honor and remember them.
Luminary bags in honor of those having died of cancer and those still fighting the disease.
There were also lighted torches up at the front of the Administration Building.
Luminary bags having been lit to honor those who have fallen to cancer and those still battling the disease.
Furlow Charter School Assistant Principal Jason Williams with a group of teachers and students showing their light sticks.
During the ceremony, Allie Ochoa sang the song “Never Alone” by Lady Antebellum. The names were read aloud by Ross Youngdale, emcees of the event, and Beckie Dodson.
A cancer survivor doing a lap for Relay for Life.
After the ceremony, awards were given out for the organizations that raised the most money. EATON came in first. The evening ended with some entertainment by Americus Fire & Emergency Services.
All-in-all, it was a wonderful evening of celebrating victory over cancer, as well as honoring and remembering those who have fallen to it and who are still fighting the battle.
