DEEP RUN — Paula Creel, holding back from crying, had only one thought before taking the first Relay for Life lap Friday night at South Lenoir High School: “Getting better.”
“I’m a survivor of breast cancer,” she said.
It was her first time at a Relay event. She has gone through a double mastectomy and is still receiving chemotherapy.
The 50-year-old wore a cap to cover her shaved head, saying her church cancer support group has helped her cope with the ordeal.
Starting its 100th year, the American Cancer Society continues putting up a fight against the deadly disease of cancer.
This year’s theme is appropriately named “Finish the Fight.” Lenoir County is now in its 24th year of participating in that fight.
The event began Friday night at South Lenoir High School with an opening ceremony emceed by Skip Waters, chief meteorologist with WCTI ABC-12.
“While each of us has a unique reason for being here,” he said to the crowd, “we all have something very much in common. We want to make a difference in the fight against cancer.”
The survivors’ lap followed the ceremony.
“They’re the reason we relay,” Richy Huneycutt, co-chair of the survivors events with Debbie Craven, said about the survivors. “They give us hope.”
Huneycutt has reason for hope after she lost her husband Barry in 2007 because of cancer.
“I had always been involved in Relay,” she said. “but when it touches you personally, it gives a whole new meaning.”
There were 51 teams participating that raised more than $164,000 for cancer research by Friday afternoon. The goal is to raise $205,000 by Aug. 31.
Pam Turner, the event’s chairwoman for the second year, said she hoped the goal would be reached by 7 p.m. so a cream pie could be thrown in her face.
“I just want to find a cure,” she said, “so we can stop this disease.” Her father died from lung cancer 19 years ago.
Luminaries, dedicated for a donation in memory or honor of a loved one, were lit at 9 p.m.
Latoria Thompson, 32, of Kinston, was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 29. She said she worried for her three children.
But Relay is a happy time for her.
“It helps being around people who understand what you’re going through,” Thompson said.
Bobby Wooten, 65, of La Grange said he has survived prostate cancer since 2009.
“Relay for Life is a good cause to, I guess, network with other cancer survivors,” he said.
Participants walked laps around the school’s track throughout the night and are continuing until noon today.
Today’s events include Zumba at 7:30 a.m. and children’s activities, beginning with the Kids’ Walk at 9 a.m. through noon.
“Saturday is always for the kids,” Turner said.
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.
North Carolina estimated new cases of cancer in 2013
Female breast 7,430
Uterine cervix 360
Colon & rectum 4,260
Uterine corpus 1,430
Leukemia 1,470
Lung & bronchus 8,040
Melanoma of the skin 2,620
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma 2,080
Prostate 8,150
Urinary bladder 2,070
Help prevent cancer
Do not smoke, maintain a healthy weight, choose healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, keep active and get recommended screening tests. For information, visit cancer.org/healthy/index
Source: American Cancer Society