Editor's Note: This continues our coverage of Crestview's Relay For Life, an American Cancer Society fundraiser.
The News Bulletin is proud to support cancer awareness with numerous articles leading up to the April 24-25 event.
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CRESTVIEW — Four North Okaloosa residents have the enemy in sight, and Friday, they will join a global fight.
Their mission is twofold: defeat cancer and celebrate more birthdays.
The weapon? Participation in Relay For Life, an American Cancer Society fundraiser. The event is 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday at Shoal River Middle School.
'WE NEED CURES'
Rose Campau, of Crestview, will join residents commemorating the weekend to cancer survivors, their caregivers and those who have died from the disease.
For her, like so many other supporters, the issue is personal.
"After my husband died from colon cancer and his oldest daughter died less than four months later from brain cancer, I wanted to relay so no one has to hear 'terminal' and watch their loved ones gone before their time," she said.
"It's a horrible disease, and we need cures for all the cancers."
Crestview Relay co-chair Loney Whitley, a Holt resident and 15-year participant, said a chance conversation sparked his passion for the cause.
"What started out as a casual conversation between me and my walking buddy, Karen, about the number of people at Duke Field who had cancer, or that we had lost to cancer, led to our first step," he said. "A couple of weeks later, we read an article in the paper about a Relay For Life meeting. We attended the meeting and that was the start of team Duke it Out."
'NO MONEY, NO MISSION'
Businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations, families and other groups form sponsored teams and schedule fundraisers several months before walking the track during the main event.
So far, Crestview's 32 teams and 239 participants have raised $44,952.65, according to www.relayforlife.org/crestviewfl.
Money raised boosts local programs and services that improve the quality of life for people with cancer, according to the American Cancer Society's Emerald Coast office.
For instance:
•$1,000 helps researchers study cancer, its causes and treatments
•$50 covers four rides to and from a cancer patient's treatments. The same amount covers six nights of a cancer patient and caregiver's lodging if they must travel far from home for treatment.
•$20 goes toward providing free cancer information to people calling 1-800-227-2345 or chatting online.
The same amount of money can help cover 20 people's clinical trials from more than 6,000 ongoing studies
However, a familiar saying in Relay For Life circles is "no money, no mission." Without team fundraisers and proceeds from the main event, there is no help for people with cancer.
REMEMBRANCE AND HOPE
While participants round the track, numerous teams will sell food, drinks and refreshments. There also will be live entertainment, namely Roger Whitaker, a former correctional officer sergeant at the Florida Department of Corrections, who lives in Bonifay and covers classic country songs.
Perhaps the night's most solemn moment is the 9 p.m. luminaria ceremony, when all the lights go down except for illuminated paper bags bearing the names of those who died from cancer.
That moment of remembrance is important, participants said.
So is looking forward to the future.
"I relay for Debbie from team Duke it Out, who lost her battle last year and who had been on our team for 13 years," Whitley said. "I relay for Karen, my friend and co-founder of Duke it Out, who is a cancer survivor. I relay for Laci and Mary, two more Duke team survivors. I relay for little Noah — a constant reminder of why we relay, hoping to find a cure so no child ever has to deal with cancer.
"I relay for all those we have lost, and to honor those who are in remission or still undergoing treatment."
David Meyer also knows his motivation.
"The first reason is for my friend, whose mother lost the fight to cancer over 15 years ago," he said. "It became real to me because this woman was also like a mother to me.
"I have another friend, who last month posted on social media that his mother is fighting cancer. As I walk around the track this year, I will think about both of these women."
A half-hour before the walk around the track kicks off at 7:30 p.m., a dinner honoring those who live with cancer will remind attendees why Crestview relays.
Survivors will help promote the fight against a deadly disease, and the goal to celebrate more birthdays.
"I'm tired of burying my family and friends," Gene Cox said. "Cancer has cut the lives short of so many people I know. I love to see the survivors, and look forward to (seeing) them every Relay."
Meyer agreed.
"I relay because of the survivors I have met during previous relays," he said. "They give me hope.
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WHAT: Relay For Life,an American Cancer Society fundraiser
WHEN: 6 p.m. today to 6 a.m. Saturday
WHERE: Shoal River Middle School, 3200 Redstone Ave. E., Crestview
COST: Free to participate; food and drinks available at various tents; all proceeds benefit the ACS
Click here for the event website>>
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: TONIGHT: Here's why these Crestview residents Relay For Life
