When science teacher Shanna Roberts was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, her sixthgrade students at West Lee Middle School lived through the treatment process with her as she dealt with multiple surgeries, chemotherapy and hair loss.
"They learned that healing takes a long time, physically, emotionally and spiritually,"
Roberts said. Now those students are in eighth grade and Roberts is officially a cancer survivor. In their Business Computer Technology class together this year, Roberts had them research and write brochures on cancer types, symptoms and treatments to distribute at Lee County's Relay for Life event on Friday and Saturday.
"I wanted to open their eyes to see that there are a lot of other people in the community who need our care, our compassion and our love," Roberts said.
Relay for Life, the allnight walk-a-thon that is the American Cancer Society's main fundraiser each year, will be held at the Lions Club Fairgrounds starting at 6 p.m. on Friday and continuing through the next day, rainor shine. Along with the West Lee brochures and the relay itself, there will be a special survivor's lap, a luminaria and a pledge to fight for and find a cure for the disease. Lee County Relay for Life Chairwoman Shirley Crissman is hoping for alarge turnout. "It's going to be an emotional weekend, it's going to be a tiring weekend, but it's going to be well, well worth it," Crissman said. "I can't see anyone who comes beingdisappointed." In addition to a survivors' lap and a caregivers' lap, there will also be segments of the relay dedicated to "sassy slippers," "jammin' jammies," and silly socks, as well as anegg race. For those not walking, there will be a raffle, entertainment, a Kids' Zone and lots of help with parking, according to Crissman. She called it an event for the whole family, promising "fun, fellowship and food" tothose who attend. "Don't eat before you come, and don't be in a hurry," Crissman said.
The relay is dedicated to everyone who has been touched by cancer in some way, Crissman said.
"We're going to celebrate our survivors, remember our lost ones and pledge to fight back and find a cure," Crissman said.
For Roberts, the event is something she's grown into since her diagnosis and treatment.
"For the first two years afterwards, I couldn't even look at a pink ribbon or think about Relay for Life -- it was just too real," Roberts said. "I'm glad now that I've gotten to a point where I can be active with it, talk about it and participate."
The schedule
SANFORD -- Relay for Life of Lee County will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, continuing through Saturday morning, at the Lions Club Fairgrounds.
For more information, visit www.events.cancer.
org/rflleecountync.
The following events have been planned in conjunction with Relay for Life:
Ongoing
-- The 3M Relay for Life team is raffling off a wooden clock and a wooden Dale Earnhardt Jr. children's toilet. Tickets for the raffles cost $1 each, or purchase six for $5. All proceeds will benefit Relay for Life of Lee County.
To purchase tickets, call Catherine Wood at (919) 718-0000, ext. 1126, or visit the 3M booth at Relay for Life.
Friday
-- Hair Associates at 2109 Tramway Road will hold a hair-cutting event from 3 to 6 p.m. to benefit Relay for Life of Lee County. No appointment required; at least 10 local stylists are slated to work at this fundraiser, and all other local licensed cosmetologists are invited to participate as well. A minimum donation of $10 per haircut is requested.
-- The event's opening ceremonies begin at 6 p.m.
The survivor's walk starts at 7 p.m., and the luminary ceremony is slated for 9 p.m.
Saturday
-- 7 a.m. -- The Sanford Lions Club will offer breakfast for Relay for Life participants at the Lions Club Fairgrounds. The meal will include bacon, eggs, grits, biscuits, juice and coffee.
There will be a fee, with proceeds benefiting programs supported by the Lions Club.
-- 8 a.m. -- A wakeup stretch will be held by Carolina Women's Fitness.
-- 9 a.m. -- Turner's Chapel Children's Choir.
-- 9:30 a.m. -- Magic Man.
-- 11 a.m. -- Kids Lap.
-- Noon -- Fight Back Ceremony.
July 26
-- The All-Nite Trakkers Relay for Life team will hold its fourth annual golf tournament at Sanford Golf Course. Entry fee is $50 per player (four players per team) for this captain's choice-format event. For more information, or to register, contact Kevin Schoolcraft at schoolk78@ aol.com or (919) 774-8522.
All proceeds will benefit Relay for Life of Lee County. To see more of The Sanford Herald or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sanfordherald.com Copyright (c) 2008, Sanford Herald, N.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2008 Sanford Herald, N.C.