Event in city makes strides against cancer

By RACHEL HUNTER
WATERTOWN TIMES INTERN
SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2011

Throughout history, marches have always instigated change and north country residents are hoping their efforts will have the same effect — this time against cancer.

Hundreds of participants clothed in purple took to the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds track Friday night at the 2011 Jefferson County Relay for Life event, organized by the American Cancer Society.

As the survivors walked, spectators lined the track and cheered them on toward the finish.

"People look at you like you're a hero, but inside you know you're just like them," 61-year-old Helen M. Williams, a five-year breast cancer survivor, of Carthage said.

With over 100,000 cases of cancer reported in New York state last year, it seems everybody knows somebody affected by the disease. But Donald J. Boshart, the community executive director for the Relay for Life of Jefferson County, said the $170,000 already raised will help to combat cancer.

For the past five years, the Randy's Rangers team has participated in the Relay and team members say they are not going away any time soon.

Randy L. Clement started the team when was diagnosed with cancer and we just kept the momentum going, said brother Douglas S. Clement, 57, of Watertown.

"We're going to keep this going until we can't do it any more," said Sarah R. Mono, 31, of Carthage. "We even have our kids involved so when we can't do it any more, they can."

They weren't the only ones thinking long-term.

Christopher J. Palmer of Brite Orange Reality in Evans Mills has been attending since 2004 and believed it was time to be more "creative" during the overnight event.

"Each year my family brings out a white sheet and everybody signs or does whatever to it. We do one each year. It's great because you can see all the changes the family goes throughout the years. We want to adopt the same thing here. We're hoping people will cover the board with messages or drawings dedicated to their loved ones who have gone through cancer. Eventually, we hope to form walls in the tent with these orange boards," he said.

As darkness fell over the sea of people, sponsored luminaria bags were placed around the track and lit in memory of those lost to cancer as well and in honor of those still struggling with the disease.

Many, like Brianna E. Bates, 18, of Carthage, decided to imprint the bag with a message for their loved one.

"The experience is all pretty emotional," Miss Bates said. "My grandmother died of cancer 11 years ago and I have done this every year since. It's a sad event, but a great way to remember