Relay raises $235,000 for cancer’s cure

Step by step, lap by lap, dollar by dollar, they worked to find a cure for cancer.

Cancer survivors, caretakers, family and friends gathered Friday night and early Saturday morning to take part in Relay For Life at Heritage High School.

Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser for finding a cancer cure. Amanda Darling-Thompson, community manager with the American Cancer Society, said approximately 1,600 participants formed 135 teams, which raised money throughout the year.

Relay For Life is a celebration of the fundraising and a chance to honor and remember those who are battling cancer or who have died from the disease, Darling-Thompson said. So far Lynchburg’s Relay For Life has raised about $235,000, she said. She expects more donations to come in the few weeks.

The money is raised through bake sales, car washes, raffles and donations, Darling-Thompson said.

Relay For Life began Friday night with about 300 cancer survivors taking a lap around the track, being cheered on by the crowd.

Larry Riffee has been participating in Relay For Life for 18 years.

“I’ve been (a cancer survivor) for five years, but my cancer has come back,” Riffee said. “My cancer is now terminal, but I’m still a survivor.”

Riffee said he enjoys the people who come out to Relay For Life and raising money to go toward finding a cure for cancer.

“It takes money to do the research to fight cancer, and it’s one of the most dreaded diseases,” he said. “There’s not a week that goes by when you don’t hear about somebody that’s just been diagnosed. It’s a terrible, terrible disease and we just need to get rid of it and enjoy life.”

Stephanie Claybrook, a participant of the Young Professionals of Central Virginia team, said contributing at Relay For Life was a way she could honor her grandmother who died from cancer.

“I think everybody is affected by cancer in some way,” Claybrook said.

As the sun sets, a glow from around the track lights the way for participants. Luminaria, or small bags with candles inside and a name outside, form a tribute to those lost to cancer.

The Luminaria ceremony with a photo presentation of people who lost their lives to cancer is “the most sobering reason” Relay is held, Darling-Thompson said.

The Relay For Life ended Saturday morning with the Fight Back ceremony, where participants are asked to take a pledge to do something in their lives to fight back against cancer in the next year.

Darling-Thompson said these pledges do not have to be complicated, “even if it’s as simple as continuing to fundraise for the American Cancer Society — if it is making their mother go get the mammogram that she’s never had before or to go get a colon cancer screening.”

Step by step, lap by lap. Cancer survivors, family and friends worked to find a cure for the disease that touched each of their lives.