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Honor those who fight cancer at Relay For Life
It’s been five months, and there’s still a hole in our Sylva Herald family. Not a week goes by that we don’t miss Jeff Rhyne, our comrade in newsprint, as we put out another edition of the paper.
Jeff died in January, just six months after he had completed the Survivor’s Lap at last July’s Relay For Life. It meant a lot to him.
Cancer research during the past few decades led to the breakthroughs that kept Jeff with us for years after his cancer was diagnosed; if his cancer had struck three years from now, additional experiments might have produced the treatment or cure that would have allowed Jeff to enjoy retirement.
Much of the money raised during this Friday’s Relay For Life will go directly into the research that can save the lives of cancer patients. Last year’s event raised $47,500 – almost $50,000 – to help scientists and doctors learn more so they can cure more people.
Research is not the only purpose of relay fund-raising, though it’s uppermost in our minds as we continue to mourn Jeff, and uppermost in the minds of volunteers like Kathy Wong, who lost a much-loved sister to the disease. Relay also earmarks funds for patient-service programs aimed at cancer prevention and education, and early detection of the killer disease.
Nationally, 35 cents of every dollar raised goes toward research, and 45 cents goes toward programs aimed at reducing the spread and occurrence of cancer.
The event itself celebrates the victories and honors those like former school board Chairman Martha Queen and former Sylva board member Eldon Cabe who are gone.
Last year Jeff was a survivor; this year his widow, Anne, will walk in his honor and memory. Jeff’s name will be on at least 20 of the luminaries that burn all night in tribute to those who have lost their personal battles in the war against cancer. Candles also are lit in honor of those who are currently fighting to defeat cancer.
Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It steals from all professions, all age groups, all ethnic groups and all socioeconomic groups.
Most people in Jackson County probably have lost a friend or relative to cancer; everyone has a stake in the research that may one day eradicate it.
In memory of Jeff, Martha, Eldon and all the others our county has lost through the years, support the Relay and the American Cancer Society.
They save lives.
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