Relaying kindness, support, and hope No matter what the experts and statisticians tell us, Bath and Highland residents seem to be hit harder and more often with cancer in recent years than anyone can remember. It seems every week we learn another friend or family member has been diagnosed with some form of this dreadful disease.
It's no surprise, then, that local chapters of the American Cancer Society have been increasingly successful in getting financial and volunteer support, particularly for their annual "Relay for Life" events.
Relays held recently in both counties were well-attended; teams raised comparatively record amounts - some $50,000-$60,000 altogether.
But even the most cynical must admit the Relays are much more than your basic fund-raiser.
The Relays have literally become a way of life. They provide an opportunity to not only honor and remember those who have died, but to celebrate with those increasing numbers who have beaten cancer. The candlelight from luminaries and words from special speakers evoke mixed emotions of joy and loss. The simple act of walking among friends, families and survivors symbolizes a deeper appreciation for good health - something so many take for granted until they're without it.
Getting any form of cancer in this rural area carries daunting challenges. The double-whammy treatments of radiation and chemotherapy are extraordinarily difficult to cope with this far from larger hospitals providing the services, often requiring folks to travel hundreds of miles a day - every day - for weeks on end, and to do so when their bodies are succumbing to side effects of sickness, severe fatigue, reduced immune systems, and pain that only compound the symptoms they are already dealing with. And if there's surgery involved, recovery can be even more brutal and time-consuming.
Those suffering with cancer require the care of so many people around them - friends offering to drive them to treatments; family members helping to soothe their pain, those who fix meals or dig up information on health care, those who offer up apartments in urban areas closer to hospitals. The list of caregivers in Bath and Highland is a long one, and without these people, those with cancer would find the fight for survival even more difficult.
That's part of the reason the Relays are so important - they provide a day to bring all these people together to share experiences, offer the critical support they need, and allow those who have not been affected an opportunity to contribute. They restore the will to prevail and remind us that however slowly, progress is being made in understanding and treating many forms of the disease.
The coordination and management of our Relay for Life events is no small feat, either. So many details to watch over, and plans to put into action. What makes their job easier is the base of volunteers who are so quick to lend a hand.
The money raised is put to use in research, support, and countless other services. The American Cancer Society has contributed to almost every major discovery in cancer research, studies which continue to seek prevention, better detection, and improved treatment. The society also is a strong lobbying organization, advocating for policies at the state and national level geared toward these same goals. Its programs for victims provide a wealth of information, at no charge - all through local donations from communities like ours.
Fighting cancer requires all the resolve one can muster. The Relays help create that sense of empowerment to keep the fight going in the hopes that some day, cancer will be eradicated from the annals of human misery.
If you didn't get the opportunity to contribute this year, it's never too late. Local chapters can be reached by calling Mary Beth Gutshall in Highland, (540) 468-2555 or Olivia Haney in Bath at (540) 997-9135.
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