Reported by Paula Antolini
Relay for Life is Global!
Kenya Shares the Relay Day with Bethel, Danbury, and Redding
View VIDEO of welcome message to Kenya, here: http://vimeo.com/95601043
One World, One Hope.
The American Cancer Society is pleased to announce that this year's Relay for Life will reach across the globe to Nairobi, Kenya. As Relay for Life of Bethel, Danbury and Redding celebrate their special 20th Relay for Life event this year, Kenya will be having their first Relay for Life event ever. The two events will overlap on the morning of June 14th and will share the excitement via Skype.
The American Cancer Society’s signature activity "Relay for Life" has become a global movement. Global Relay For Life events are now held in more than 600 communities spanning 20 countries.
The three tri-chairs of the "Leadership Team for 2014" of Bethel, Danbury and Redding are Laura McCormick, Maryclaire Quine and Carol Ann Viebrock. McCormick has been with Relay for Life for 18 years, Quine 16 years, and Viebrock 15 years. Bethel is fortunate to have such dedicated leaders. All three have had cancer in their families.
Twenty-nine year Bethel resident Laura McCormick has been traveling internationally as a "Global Trainer" and has trained teams in Kenya and Zambia, among many world locations. She has been Chairperson of the Relay for 5 years total (various years) including this year, and Relaying for 18 years.
McCormick said:
"Once a country expresses interest in Relay we do an in country meeting with the organization and have them sign the license agreement. I was present at that meeting in Kenya last June. Between that meeting and when we return, they are tasked with creating a committee and promoting the event to gather interest and teams. We then do an in country training for the committee and the interested people from the community to help facilitate the forming of teams. I was present at that meeting as well…. we had over 180 people at the training!
The need for an event like Relay For Life in Kenya is beyond comprehension….. they do not have the resources to deal with cancer patients. There are only 5 oncologists in the entire country of 44 million people. Because of the many different tribes in Kenya, all with their own beliefs and culture, cancer is not very well understood. To many tribes it is a curse and a result of something you have done wrong. So the education component of Relay is very much needed. The experience of RFL creates a dialogue about cancer that isn't a natural one in the country.
If people are lucky enough to be able to get to the hospitals to be screened (most can't afford to get to Nairobi from their rural communities) they must wait hours and hours in crowded hallways to be seen. The public hospital is currently seeing 80-100 new cancer diagnosis each week. Because of the lack of doctors and equipment (there are only 2 radiography machines) patients are given an appointment for treatment for 11 months from their diagnosis. This means that they must go back to their homes and wait for nearly a year for any sort of treatment! Most can't get back to the city, the rest have progressed to late stage and can't be helped at that point. It is just not ok. Where you live should not dictate if you live.
We are so happy to see a country like Kenya get the gift of Relay For Life because of the awareness it brings to the need for more services, the education it brings about the disease itself, and the funds it will raise to help those who need it most. Their goal is to raise enough money from this event to pay for the treatment of 30 patients from each of the 42 communities in Kenya! That is a lot of people who would not otherwise be able to get the treatment they need! So exciting.
During the training of the prospective team captains, we passed the microphone to get some feedback from the participants. There were many tears, and a very united sentiment of 'we can make a difference, we can do this and we must'! These people who have so very little, are so willing to do whatever they can to help make the cancer landscape change.
It is all very humbling, and very encouraging to be a part of this Global movement ~ seeing Relay saving lives in these countries is the most rewarding experience I know of!"
*****
Maryclaire Quine, a twenty-one year Bethel resident, has held the positions of Team Captain, Committee Member, Event Chair, Celebration on the Hill Ambassador, New England Division RFL Task Force 2006 - 2009, New England Training Team 2010 - present. Quine joined these organizations so that she could "help other volunteers have all the information they need to aid in the mission of the American Cancer Society."
On April 8, 2014, Quine wrote a letter to Relayers in Nairobi:
Dear “Twin” Relayers in Nairobi,
I am very excited for you as you begin your very first Relay For Life. You will be helping cancer patients and their families with the funds you raise and you will be getting great personal rewards as well.
I first participated in Relay For Life in Bethel, CT in 1996. My mother had died of brain cancer in 1993 and my mother-in-law was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 1995. My children and I wanted to FIGHT BACK against cancer. We had a wonderful time at our first Relay For Life and were proud to be helping the American Cancer Society with its mission.
In 1998 after my mother–in-law died from leukemia, I became a team captain to honor the memory of both grandmothers of my children. The opening ceremony and survivor lap was a little bittersweet for me because these two women did not survive but I found comfort in seeing how many people have survived and in being with other caregivers whose loved ones had died. I have met many wonderful, caring people by participating in Relay For Life.
Several years ago, when the mother of my daughter’s best friend was diagnosed with cancer, my daughter was distraught thinking that Sally’s mom would die. In her experience, people always die from cancer but because we have participated in Relay For Life, I reminded her that now we know many, many people who have been treated and are cancer free. This gave us hope for Sally’s mother so I am grateful to Relay For Life for helping me to calm and reassure my daughter’s fears. (Sally’s mother is now cancer free!)
This year Relay For Life will be extra special for my family and me. I was happy to be with my brother when he was diagnosed with leukemia this autumn. HAPPY? Yes, happy because Relay For Life has saved my brother’s life. Many years ago the American Cancer Society awarded a research grant to Dr Brian Drucker. Ten years ago, Dr Drucker’s research led us to Gleevec, a drug to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia. Because of this drug, my brother is feeling well and will continue to live a long and happy life. Since the American Cancer Society gets the money for research grants from the fundraising at Relay For Life events nationwide, I am thankful to every person who participates in Relay For Life – You have saved my brother’s life and will save many others in the future!
So, my friends in Nairobi, I wish you great success with your first Relay For Life this June 13-14 as we in Bethel, CT celebrate our 20th. I hope that in twenty years we will both be celebrating the memory of Relay For Life because our combined efforts will end cancer worldwide.
Cheers and thank you for all that you are doing to end cancer in our lifetime,
Maryclaire Quine
*****
Carol Ann Viebrock has been living n Bethel for 17 years. Fifteen years ago Viebrock was inspired to participate in RFL when her company formed a team for the Relay For Life of Wilton. Viebrock was later inspired to join a Cancer Prevention Study being conducted by the American Cancer Society. Viebrock was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago. As a survivor, in 2013 she was RFL Honorary Chairperson and participated in the RFL opening ceremony to share her journey with others and she has been dedicated to helping the American Cancer Society.
Viebrock's recent letter to Relay for Life in Kenya:
Dear Event Chairs and Participants in the Relay For Life in Kenya,
Hello, my name is Carol Ann Viebrock from Bethel, CT and I would like to welcome Kenya to the Relay for Life family.
My participation with Relay for Life began 15 years ago when the company that I was working for at that time, formed a team for a local Relay for Life. I decided to participate because both myself and my husband George had family members and friends that had battled cancer
My experience with Relay for Life became much more personal 5 years ago when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I went through 16 rounds of chemo, 3 surgeries and a month of radiation. I am happy to tell you that I have been cancer free for 4 years.
One of the most important contributions I have made through my participation with Relay for life was joining the CPS-3 study, A Cancer Prevention Study conducted by the American Cancer Society. The study follows volunteers over many years, tracking their lifestyle choices and resulting health outcomes in order to find patterns that could lead too ways to prevent cancer. As a part of the CPS-3 study I have given the American Cancer Society permission to study my medical records in an effort to learn from them. The idea that something may be learned from my individual cancer diagnosis and help future cancer patients is extremely rewarding to me.
This year I was fortunate to see first hand how the money we raise at Relay for Life is used for cancer research. I toured the research facility at the Smilow Cancer Center located at Yale New Haven hospital with other local Relay participants. We toured a lab where studies are being done with money that was funded through grants from the American Cancer Society. We also heard 3 young researchers talk about their current cancer research projects.
Fifteen years ago when I started my journey with Relay for Life I could not of imagined that I would be writing a letter both as a long time Relay participant and also as a cancer survivor. Now that I am a survivor, I am even more dedicated to the work that American Cancer Society does with the money raised by Relay for Life.
I wish you the best of luck with your first Relay for Life. Thank you for joining Relay for Life and the very important cause of raising money for cancer research. Lastly, I hope your experience is as enjoyable and rewarding as mine is with my fellow teammates on the Pink Ladies.
Warm Regards,
Carol Ann Viebrock
Tri-Chair for the Bethel
*****
Each year, more than 4 million people in over 20 countries raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer through the Relay For Life movement. Relay For Life events are life-changing cancer fundraising events that help communities across the globe fight back against cancer.
This year's event is not to be missed! Besides our Kenya connection, the event has many changes from years past, all to make it extra special on this 20th Relay for Life event which has the theme of "Reunion." Organizers are hoping all survivors, friends family members, and everyone, will attend this year's event to greet old friends and acquaintances, and share in the event that celebrates life and hope, and raises funds to win the race for a cure for cancer.
Contributions also go to research and improving cancer patients' quality of life.
The ACS provides accommodations in an American Cancer Society "Hope Lodge" for cancer patients who must travel away from home for the best treatment, and provides a free and comfortable place for patients and their caregivers to stay, so they can focus on getting well.
The American Cancer Society "Road To Recovery" program provides transportation to and from treatment for people who have cancer who do not have a ride or are unable to drive themselves. Volunteer drivers donate their time and the use of their cars so that patients can receive the life-saving treatments they need.
The "Look Good…Feel Better" program is a free service that teaches women battling cancer beauty techniques to help them improve their appearance and self-image during chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
The "Reach to Recovery" support program matches specially trained breast cancer survivors with people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and want to talk to someone who has been there.
Spread the Hope One Step at a Time.
CELEBRATE. REMEMBER. FIGHT BACK.
*****
For more information about Relay for Life:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY14NE?pg=entry&fr_id=58779
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