HUNTLEY – One of the most fervent hopes Americans cherish is a cure for cancer.
“The Cure” grabs the attention of the average man, woman, or child like few other things. High school athletes raise funds at their games. Walks, races, and marathons are held to benefit the “cure” on almost a weekly or monthly basis. On any given day, somewhere in the USA, an activity for the “cure” is taking place.
Members of the Sun City Foxy Valley Walkers pose for a photo during the 2012 Relay for Life of Northern Fox Valley, held in Huntley’s Deicke Park. (Photo by Hannah Sturtecky/Sun Day)
Many of the fundraisers are combined with entertainment and family activities, turning events into parties, some lasting for hours or taking place overnight.
The latest in the fighting back fundraising arsenal is Relay for Life, which has become the ACS’ signature fundraising event. One took place this past weekend at Deicke Park in Huntley. A 12-member team of Sun City residents participated in the relay, which ran from 6 p.m. on Friday, June 15, to 6 a.m. Saturday, June 16.
“Teams put up tents, and we had a bunch of blue balloons that identified us,” said Mary Lou Dorgan, team captain and N.25 resident. “We are part of a Huntley community effort to help the American Cancer Society’s fundraising efforts.”
Dorgan participated in a 60-mile walk two years ago in Chicago that was named after Susan B. Koman, a cancer victim. “I raised $4,000 for that event, and I raised about $2,500 for the event last weekend in Huntley,” she said.
A relay is just what its name implies. A large number of volunteers gather at a site and walk around a local track or course for 12 hours. They take turns on the track, so no one person has to walk the whole way. Entertainment and/or recreational activities are held for children and families, and the group essentially holds a fundraising party for the 12-hour period. The actual walk is the climax and celebration of an intensive fundraising period.
“It has turned out to be an effective fundraising method. It is an opportunity for our community to help cancer patients and their families stay well, get well, find cures, and fight back,” a Relay for Life flyer stated. “Each year, friends, families, co-workers, troop moms and dads, bunco groups, sports teams, church groups, and neighborhood groups form teams to walk in Relay for Life. Throughout the year, these teams raise money and then come together to walk around a track all night to signify that cancer never sleeps. They gather to celebrate, remember, and fight back.”
A relay typically includes family members of cancer survivors, patients, or victims. There is a special time at the start of each event where survivors are invited to walk as a group and be recognized.
Sun City team members, in addition to Dorgan, are Barb and Pat Freeman, Marilyn Kowalski, Kerry Gore (both of whose parents died of cancer), Terry Johnson, Lori Martiny, Gerry Slinn and her daughter, and Larry Carby.
“We are motivated to do this sometimes because a family member is a patient or a victim,” Dorgan said. “Many of the volunteers just know the ACS organization and the cause and feel led to help in some tangible way. My own sister has battled cancer twice, so I have a personal stake. I like these relays because virtually all the money raised goes directly to cancer research.”
The Huntley event is one of more than a dozen Relays for Life that are taking place in the northern Fox Valley area this year. Others have or will take place in Elgin, South Elgin, Barrington, St. Charles, Hoffman Estates, Algonquin, and Crystal Lake. More than 200 will take place this year throughout the state.
“Relays for Life have been going on throughout the nation for more than 15 years,” Mike Jostes, ACS staff member in the Chicago area, said. “We’ve been doing them for about five years in the local area. We try to organize many entertainment activities to attract volunteers and persons for an overnight period and turn it into a major community event.”
“I participated in the Koman event two years ago,” Dorgan said. “Then, last Halloween, the Relay for Life asked for volunteers to help at a game booth in the area, and I got on their email list. Now I’m an active volunteer in Sun City.”
