Published: May 14, 2008 11:38 am            

Cancer survivors share triumphs, good times as they walk for life

With the sun hanging low in the sky and the adrenaline-pumping theme from “Rocky” playing over the loudspeakers, several hundred people gathered on Friday evening at Rose Stadium at Midwest City High to participate in this year’s Relay for Life.

Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society’s signature annual event, allows people to raise money to fight the rampant disease and to talk with others, some of whom are fighting or have already fought and triumphed over the affliction.

Del City residents Ed and Lola Turner were on the track, circling around and around and were happy to comment on why they were there that night.

“We’ve been involved (with Relay for Life) for 14 years,” Ed Turner said. “My wife’s a 14-year cancer survivor.”

Lola Turner, walking alongside her husband, added; “I think they do a wonderful job,” regarding Relay for Life and the local organizers. “It’s good to see how many survivors there are.”

And there were plenty of survivors. Some sat under a tent while others walked or joined friends and family for hot dogs and hamburgers being cooked on portable grills. At a far end of the field, Harrah resident Randall Kelley was setting up a tent for his children.

Kelley said his wife had a bout with the disease and that his mother had fought if for three years before succumbing to it.

“The purpose of this is to gather as much money as possible in order for the American Cancer Society to find a cure for cancer,” Kelley said.

Shauna Stover of Choctaw was glad to see so many people participating in an event that would last into the early hours of the following morning.

And as the sun set, people continued to walk around the track, hoping that their efforts would lead to a cure and an end to cancer.

        

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