Howard County’s 2008 Relay For Life

By Connie Ballenger

Note from the Writer: Before writing this history about 2008’s Relay For Life, I wrote a 52-page book, “Howard County’s Relay For Life – The First Twelve Years (1996- 2007).” It would be helpful to read that prior to this history because it gives a more thorough explanation of how Relay For Life events work. That history is available from Jason Copley (410-781-6905) or Connie Ballenger (410-796-0290).

“Silence surrounds the track behind Hammond High School. The air is warm and musty, and it is filled with a sense of purpose uncharacteristic for this moment of silence. Just minutes after a long-awaited sunset, a sliver of moon lends just enough light to illuminate almost 1,000 people. They are fighting cancer.”

This is how an article in the June 11, 2008 edition of Howard County section of the Sun described the Moment of Silence during Howard County’s 2008 Relay For Life’s Luminaria Ceremony. The all-night event was held to raise money for the American Cancer Society and to support people who have had cancer.

In fact, every moment of 2008’s Howard County Relay For Life held June 6 and 7 at Hammond High School, whether quiet and serene or loud and boisterous, was “filled with a sense of purpose.” Everyone there was fighting cancer. Some were battling their own cancer, while others were fighting the disease that had stricken their family or friends.

Jumping on the Bandwagon

Relay officially kicked off with a Happy Hour and Booster Night at Champps at on November 13, 2007. The event rounded up team members to participate in Relay while enjoying dinner together,

November 13 was also noteworthy because it was the deadline for team members to register online for free. Online registration was available for $5 by January 22 and $10 after that.

From November 13 to June 6 when Relay began, 75 teams jumped on Howard County’s 2008 Relay For Life bandwagon. And, with many firsts, including a new theme, what a delightful, memorable bandwagon it was.

The theme for 2008 Relays across the world was Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back. These words adorned the T-shirts and the giant signs lining the track.

“ ‘Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back’ will be a reoccurring Relay For Life mantra for the next few years, just as the tag line ‘a team event to fight cancer’ was used for several years,” said Jason Copley, the American Cancer Society’s senior income manager for Howard County’s 2008 Relay For Life. “We feel that this theme is very fitting. As relayers we are here to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer as well as celebrate our accomplishments in the fight against cancer. We are also here to remember those who have lost their battle to cancer and to fight against this disease so that one day it will be no more.”

Preparing to Relay

For a year before Relay began, committee members planned and prepared for the event. (Committee members are listed under the section, “Worker Bees” in this history.) Among the jobs committee members performed were planning Opening Ceremonies, locating speakers and musicians, processing team and individual registrations as well as luminaria donations, seeking corporate sponsorships and Silent Auction donations, and making logistical arrangements for the event. On-site work began in earnest two days before Relay when camp sites were marked. During the final hours before Relay, teams set out their tents, stages and registration booths were assembled, and luminaria were set out.

Let the Relay Begin

Howard County’s first event on Relay Day was the Survivors’ Reception, which attracted 274 survivors, almost all of whom brought a guest. Attendees were treated to a scrumptious pasta dinner in Hammond High School’s cafeteria. The meal was donated by Putting on the Ritz.

White, yellow and pink flower centerpieces provided by Wilhide’s sat atop pink and yellow tablecloths. The American Cancer Society gave survivors T-shirts and presented survivors and their guests gifts. The speaker was Jeff Castonguay, chairperson of Westminister’s 2008 Relay For Life, who talked about his five-year battle with lymphoma and why he volunteered for the American Cancer Society.

Just outside the reception, 50 booklets with encouraging stories written by local cancer survivors were available for free. The idea was borrowed from the Carroll Vista Relay for Life and was a first for Howard County’s Relay.

At Opening Ceremonies attendees were treated again to Dick Story’s melodious voice and keen sense of humor. This was Howard County’s Economic Development Authority’s chief executive officer’s seventh year emceeing Howard County’s Relays. Also at Opening Ceremonies, Steve Cramer hit all the right notes singing the “National Anthem” and Howard High School’s Color Guard performed flawlessly. On stage were 806 special flags representing the number of Howard County residents expected to be diagnosed with cancer in the next year.

2 Before 2008, Al Doong would have been considered an unlikely candidate to speak at Relay because very few people knew he had had cancer. But after encouragement from Amanda Christian, captain of the YPN (Young Professional Network) team, Al joined the team in March and soon shared his experience as a Hodgkins’s disease survivor on his webpage on the Relay website to help him get donations (he raised more than $3,000 entirely through donations in three months). When asked to speak at Relay, Al decided to share his cancer experience in front of an audience.

Al wrote on his website and told the crowd at Opening Ceremonies how difficult it was to fight cancer. “Spending eight hours hooked up to a machine and vomiting was not something I looked forward to on Fridays. Most people couldn’t even fathom the torture I endured as a 14-year-old…I remember many times during those months I just wanted to give up because of the pain and suffering I was enduring but my father kept telling me that I had an entire life ahead of me and this was just a temporary setback.”

Just as Al’s donation requests reaped benefits, so did his speech. Several hours after he spoke, the mother of a boy who was approximately Al’s age when he was stricken with cancer talked to Al. The mother told Al her son had heard his speech, was being treated for brain cancer, and was going through an unbelievably difficult time. “What I went through is what he is going through now – treatments, pain, dropping out of school,” said Al. “I gave him hope. I am a 26-year cancer survivor.”

Also at Opening Ceremonies, Dick announced that yours truly had written a history, “Howard County’s Relay For Life – The First Twelve Years (1996-2007).” The 52-page book was available for a $10 donation.

The 274 survivors who attended the Survivors’ Reception turned out in full force to walk in the Survivors’ Walk around the track. The ones leading the march carried a purple and white Relay For Life banner with the words “Survivors – Celebrating Life!” The announcer called their names and the number of years since they have had cancer. The crowd standing on the sidelines cheered and applauded.

Diane Brown described the Survivors’ Walk in her June 19, 2008, Opinion Column in the Howard County Times and Columbia Flier . “It is hard not to tear up at the solemnity, yet there is joyfulness at understanding that these walkers have, so far, beaten the disease,” she wrote.

Just as in past Relays, children were an integral part of the event. After registering, they gathered at the Kids’ Walk tent and enjoyed five interactive stations and participated in the Kids’ Walk.

With 1,700 luminaria lining the track and the words “HOPE” and “CURE” spelled out in luminaria on the bleachers, 2008’s Luminaria Ceremony began at dusk. At this ceremony, candles in sand-filled paper bags were lit to honor survivors and those who had died from cancer.

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From 2003 to 2007, the poem, “Every Candle Has a Name” was read at the Luminaria Ceremony. In 2008, Kevin Nowak, a writer from Indianapolis who became involved in Relay after his grandmother died from the disease in 1999, wrote to Sheri Cohen, who was in charge of Ceremonies and Entertainment, to ask if our Relay would consider using a poem he had written. Previously, his poems had been read at 146 Relay For Life events in six countries. Sheri shared the six poems Kevin had written with the Planning Committee and asked for feedback about which one to read. The Committee chose “Hero” (printed below) which local survivor Judi Raglin read.

“Hero”

You did not set out to be a hero, But that is exactly what you are. In this battle we fight against cancer, You have helped to carry us far.

You have courage and guts, That are truly second to none. You have gone through so much, So your battle could be won.

To all of us you are a hero. You are someone we all admire. You are someone with strength and spirit, Someone with determination and fire.

You have amazing heart and passion, And a confident bounce to your stride. When it comes to our individual lives, We are glad to have you by our side.

You may not realize how many things To us that you have passed on. You have shown us through your battle, That hope and grace will never be gone.

You have taken on the enemy called cancer, And through your truly amazing fight, We realize with just a little bit of faith, A cure for all might be in sight.

Thank you for being an inspiration, And allowing us to look up to you. Hero, on this night let me just say, Thank you very much for all that you do.

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Jason Barth and Bill McKinley supplied bagpipe music.

Nancy Wentworth, luminaria chairperson, wrote in the Program Souvenir Booklet, “As I watch luminaries being lit, the field goes from dark to light – each candle recognizes a loved one. This is the true meaning of Relay For Life – sharing, caring, and providing funds to find a cure for cancer.”

Nancy credited The Columbia Bank for preparing the bags and the staff from Greenman-Pederson, Inc. for setting out the luminaria immediately prior to the event. It took 20 volunteers four hours to position the luminaria, including painstakingly spelling out “HOPE” and “CURE” in luminaria on the bleachers. In addition, Boy Scouts from Troop 540 in Fulton worked all evening setting out luminaria that were donated during the event and getting everything ready for the lighting ceremony.

During half-hour sessions from 11:30 p.m. to 2:15 a.m., Kim Praay, Patrick Kisicki and Jerry Wade, Mandy Buttrum and Adam Day volunteered their services and provided acoustic guitar-driven musical entertainment.

Musical entertainment was not the only activity that kept folks from missing the sleep they were accustomed to in the wee hours of the morning. Prior to the 2008 Relay, Lori Evans, who served as co-chair for Howard County’s 2006 and 2007 Relays, came up with the idea of holding Spirit Laps throughout the night. The jam-packed line up consisted of: Beach Limbo Party, midnight-1 p.m.; Let’s Beat Cancer Fiesta, 1-2 a.m.; Pajama Party, 2- 3 a.m.; Remembrance Laps, 3-4 a.m.; and Fight-Back Laps, 6-8 a.m.

Lori reported that the first spirit lap, Beach Limbo Party, brought out a crowd attired in grass skirts. The merriment level was kicked up a notch after participants donned the leis that were handed to them at Relay.

Many adults and kids were still energetic enough at 1 a.m. to participate in the Let’s Beat Cancer Fiesta. They wore colorful, festive attire they brought and beads they were given at the event. Thanks to the many whacks they happily inflicted on the cancer piñata, it took a beating and split apart, spilling candy onto the track which everyone eagerly scooped up and ate.

Lori admitted the Pajama Party and Remembrance Laps did not attract many participants and the Fight-Back Laps were cancelled due to low attendance. Perhaps it’s asking too much to expect to keep a party, even one as meaningful and important as Relay, humming past 3 or 4 in the morning.

Lori said she was impressed that at least a dozen folks dressed up as superheroes during the Spirit Laps, with most of them coming from Glen’s Cancer Fighting Superhero Team, which went on to win the Most Spirit Award.

5 One person who fought off fatigue (and sore muscles) during the entire Relay was 44-year-old ultrarunner Melissa Simmens. Hector Garcia, captain of the Mid Triathlon Club, asked Melissa to run 12 consecutive hours at Relay so that his team could get sponsors for her extraordinary effort. As an ultrarunner, Melissa competed in runs up to 100 miles long. She estimated her Relay jaunt was about 50 miles. While that might sound like a cakewalk in comparison to 100 miles, it was not. Melissa had to run on hard pavement rather than the trails she was used to. Instead of new sights, Melissa was looking at the same scenery as she circled the track repeatedly. And, she had to start her run in the evening so the sun would not give her a much-needed energy boost for almost 12 hours. To compound the difficulty, the humidity during Relay became oppressive as night turned into morning.

But, with a light-beam emanating from her hat during the darkness and members of the Mid Maryland Triathlon Club running beside her much of the time, Melissa was a constant on the track. Other than a few, quick rest-room breaks (she was given her own personal outdoor port-a-john beside the track), she did not stop running for 12 consecutive hours.

Even before Melissa ran her first Relay lap, word of her impending feat inspired a new Relay feature. Debra Wilkenloh and Lori Evans (who served on the Planning Committee) and Jason Copley (the American Cancer Society’s senior income manager for the Relay) came up with the idea of starting an Extreme Relayer Program. To join, team members signed up to walk or run the track for 20 minutes each hour during Relay and raise at least $500.

Twelve people became Extreme Relayers. They were Cheryl Bell, Carolyn Bird, Shelly Chamness, Sheri Cohen, Lori Evans, Emily Leclercq, Chad Nordby, Dottie Paxton, Margaret Regone, Hannah Robinson, Sara Thacker, and Debra Wilkenloh. An Extreme Relayer tent by the track was available for them to stay in when they were not fulfilling their walk/run requirement. In addition to a sense of achievement, Extreme Relayers received a special Extreme Relayer T-shirt.

Lori Evans, an Extreme Relayer who also oversaw the Spirit Laps during the night, said, “Every time I felt like my feet were going to fall off I would look at Melissa, our ultrarunner, and then I would tell myself if she can run for 12 hours, you can walk for four.”

Meaghan Kordusky, who chaired the Relay, pointed out that while Extreme Relayers could stop and rest, “someone fighting cancer can’t choose to neglect the necessary medication and/or treatments.”

The Closing Fight-Back Ceremony started at 7:30 a.m. with ultraunner Melissa saying that what got her through the night was remembering that “Cancer never sleeps…I’m not the one who did the hard work. To be a survivor is truly, truly amazing.”

6 “I believe the 2008 Relay was a success in many ways,” stated Chairperson Meaghan Kordusky. “We reached out to many survivors and, although the economy has seen better days, our supporters continued to make Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society a priority.”

An initiative started in 2006, a Silent Auction continued, bringing in $4,700 this year.

Another initiative started in 2006, the Ms./Mr. Relay Pageant was dropped in 2008 because so many other activities including Spirits Laps and the Extreme Relayer Club were started.

The annual Relay For Life Yard Sale, started in 2005, was held on April 26 at the East Columbia Library.

On February 1, the American Cancer Society encouraged the public to “Dine Out for Relay For Life” to commemorate the first day that all restaurants and bars in Maryland became smoke-free. To support that effort, every corporate location of the Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grille donated 10 percent of its proceeds from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on February 1 to the American Cancer Society. Howard County’s “Kick Butts” celebration was held at the Greene Turtle’s 8872 McGaw Road location in Columbia.

The Relay for Life on Western Howard County, which spun off from Howard County’s Relay in 2007, was held June 20-21 at Western Regional Park. It raised $266,092 .

Corporations Add More Than Their Two Cents’ Worth

While Howard County’s 2008 Relay For Life was blessed with numerous corporate sponsors that collectively contributed $73,374. Wells Fargo led the list by donating $25,000.

The following corporate sponsors (listed in alphabetical order) supported Howard County’s 2008 Relay For Life. The years they sponsored other Howard County Relays are also listed.

“A Friend of Relay” - 2008

Christian Services of Howard County - 2008 Columbia Association – 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 Comcast CN8 – 2007 (regional sponsor), 2008 (regional sponsor) ezStorage -2004, 2006, 2007, 2008

Fox 45 – 2003, 2004, 2007 (regional sponsor), 2008 (regional sponsor)

7 Good Knight Entertainment – 2007, 2008 Greenman-Pederson Inc. – 2003, 2004, 2008

H&S Bakery - 2008 Hammond High School – Howard County Public Schools – 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Howard County General Hospital – 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Howard County Government – 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Howard County Times – 2000, 2001, 2003, 2008 (regional sponsor)

Jollees Insurance – 2008

Loane Bros. Inc. – 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008

Manekin – 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Mile One – 2000 (regional sponsor), 2003, 2004, 2007 (regional sponsor), 2008 (regional sponsor) Mix 106.5 – 2000 (regional sponsor), 2008 (regional sponsor)

Niro, Inc. – 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Provident Bank – 2005, 2006, 2008 putting on the Ritz – 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Re-Max 100 – 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Rita’s Italian Ice - 2008

Soccer Against Cancer - 2008 Starbucks Coffee - 2008

The Columbia Bank – 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Wells Fargo – 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Wilhide’s – 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Money Rolls In

Officially, money turned in by August 31 went to the 2008 Relay. The event raised $266,092, with most of it coming from the 75 teams that raised money throughout the year.

Fifteen-year-old Matt Beck’s recipe for fundraising - baking and selling chocolate chip and mint chocolate cookies at numerous homes and venues across the county – garnered him the top individual fundraiser award. During the last half of 2007,

8 Matt spent four hours in the kitchen twice a week preparing his yummy concoctions. He sold them for $25 a dozen, raising a sweet $5,550. In addition to a certificate of appreciation from the American Cancer Society, the River Hill High School sophomore drummed up some press for his achievement, including a story entitled “Teen’s cookie scheme raises charity dough,” which was published in the November 1, 2007 issue of the Howard County Times .

The other top individual fundraisers were Cindy Farmarco, $5,500; Sandy Roemer, $4,146; Chris Fay, $3,134; and Sheri Cohen, $3,040.

Winners of the most money raised by a team were Wells Fargo, $17,917; Hawks Hockey, $13,366; Friends For Life, $9,640; Hot2Trot, $8,427; and Niro Walkabouts, $7,798.

The Worker Bees

As its name implies, the Planning Committee plans every aspect of the Relay. It works throughout the year, with the pace picking up during the weeks just before Relay. All committee members are volunteers.

2008 Relay For Life PlanningCommittee

Meaghan Kordusky - Chairperson Connie Ballenger - Publicity/PR Dottie Paxton - Accounting/Registration Chris Bareham - Entertainment/Ceremonies Jim Piersall - Logistics James Brown - Accounting/Registration Jason Putsche - Entertainment/Stage Acts Sheri Cohen - Ceremonies/Entertainment Margaret Regone - Survivors’ Reception Lori Evans - Spirit Laps/Activities Sandy Roemer Aleta Gravelle - Registration Leslie Topus - Kids’ Walk Coordinator* Emily Leclercq - Corporate Sponsorship Nancy Wentworth - Luminaria Mitch Louie - Website Debra Wilkenloh - Team Mentor/ Mary McCormack - Team Recruitment Newsletter Chris Muller - Logistics Lisa Wissel - Silent Auction Co-Chair Erica Woods - Silent Auction Co-Chair

*Four students from River Hill High School’s S.H.O.P. (Students Helping Other People) assisted Leslie Topus plan the Kids’ Walk. They were Jessica Post, Katherine Powell, Yu Chi Wang and Niwa Coleman.

2008 Relay For Life ACS Support Staff

The American Cancer Society supplies a few paid staff members to support each RFL. The following ACS staff members helped with Howard County’s 2008 Relay For Life.

9 Robyn Catlin - administrative support Jason Copley – senior income manager Marge Centofanti - administrative support Phyllis Smelkinson – mission manager

Why Relay?

While raising money is important, it was not the only objective behind Howard County’s 2008 Relay For Life. Relays seek to ease the pain and hardship that cancer inflicts.

In a story in the June 11, 2008, Howard County Section of , Dick Story said, “(Relay) means the world to the survivors and their families, all these people coming together to raise money and tell their stories.”

In that same article, Mark Eberhart, who founded the “The Lifeguards” team in 1998 and who had to have his left leg amputated above the knee because of cancer, commented, “Every year I’m here, it becomes less about me, and the more I feel there’s a lot more to it. There’s new people every year, and there are some not coming back. I just realize more and more how important this is.”

The money raised and the caring combine to make a powerful difference. As Relay Chair Meaghan Kordusky wrote in her letter to the editor published in the Howard County Times on June 26, “Relay For Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated.”

10 Overview of Howard County’s Relay For Life Events

The 2008 Relay was the 13 th that Howard County has held. Below is a chart comparing major aspects of all of Howard County’s Relays.

# of # of # of $ from Total Partici- Sur- # of Lumi- Corporate Amount Dates of Relays pants vivors Teams naria Sponsors Raised May 17-18, 1996 N/A* 100+** 16 500 N/A* $ 32,000 June 6-7, 1997 1,000 N/A* 54 1,300 N/A* $131,935 June 5-6, 1998 N/A* 200** 65 1,800 N/A* $170,000 June 4-5, 1999 1,015 280** 82 3,500 $32,500 $265,934 June 2-3, 2000 1,102 300** 98 5,200 $32,500 $296,209 June 1-2, 2001 1,389 350** 127 6,000 $35,750 $338,493 June 7-8, 2002 1,400 375** 125 6,800 $43,227 $339,951 June 6-7, 2003 2,000 309** 121 5,000 $42,250 $319,651 June 4-5, 2004 1,000 241** 108 4,500 $64,720 $268,872 June 10-11, 2005 1,200 246** 98 3,000 $49,167 $292,927 June 2-3, 2006 1,000 228** 65 2,300 $59,121 $287,590 June 1-2, 2007 1,000 233** 72 2,500 $44,000 $269,495 June 6-7, 2008 1,000 274 75 1,700 $42,500 $266,092

Howard County’s RFL events were held at Howard Community College from 1996 to 2002 and at Hammond High School from 2003 to 2008. Both locations are in Columbia.

*N/A stands for not available.

** # of Survivors may include guests accompanying survivors to the Survivors’ Receptions.

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