Relay for Life celebrates life, searches for a cure

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Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.

Each year, the American Cancer Society’s annual Relays for Life raise millions of dollars for cancer research, second only to government funds, according to Mike Cashen of the Medford event’s committee and a former event chair.

The numbers in Burlington County are startling.

In 2011, according to the American Cancer Society, 49 people were diagnosed with cancer each week and another 17 died in the same timespan from the disease, with annual incidence rates increasing from 2004 to 2008.

The Medford Relay for Life, being held from 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 9 to 8 a.m. on Sunday, June 10 at Freedom Park on Union Street, had 331 participants, 42 teams, and has raised $77,900 as of May 24.

This is the 11th year of the Medeford relay, and in the last decade, $1,826,983 has been raised.

“We’re really, really excited,” he said. ‘It’s outstanding. Relay for Life is an overnight celebration of hope and survivorship.”

As a prostate cancer survivor, the cause is meaningful to Cashen.

“It’s based around the premises of celebrate, remember and fight back,” he said. “We celebrate the survivors.”

At noon on Saturday of the relay, there will be a survival medal presentation followed by the first lap around the quarter-mile path at the park by survivors. Caregivers will join them for the second lap.

“Cancer is a horribly isolating disease,” he said. “You think you’re on your own.”

In that way, Relay for Life is special and shows the wide effects of cancer.

The luminaria ceremony at 9 p.m. represents “remember.”

“We turn off the music,” he said. “We turn off all the lights.”

Participants are given candles, walk around and gaze at the simple bags labeled with the names of those who lost their fights.

“We also challenge them throughout the day to fight back,” he said.

Get a mammogram. For those older than 50, get in line for a colonoscopy.

If detected early, there is a larger chance of survival.

Around 12 million survivors exist today. Only a million survived 20 years ago.

“We’re making tremendous strides,” he said, but there is still work to be done.

Those who come out will walk all night.

“First and foremost is research,” Cashen said.

The society is also a cancer advocate, gives patient services and support groups, and provides education to show the impact of cancer.

“There’s a passion,” he said.

All day Saturday, fundraising efforts will occur.

Campsites will be in the center of the path at the park, with cotton candy, hot dogs, and perhaps even a dunk tank on site.

In the past, there was a watermelon-eating contest.

Each half hour, a theme lap will occur.

There is more of an age mix than would be seen at a high school event, he said, with a different blend of entertainment. It has a hometown feel and it is all possible because of Medford Township and its residents.

“It’s an amazing event,” he said. “It has meant a great deal for a lot of people.”

The park is utilized for 24 hours, though others are still allowed to visit the park.

“We’d love to have people come and visit,” he said. “The more people that are involved fighting cancer, the sooner we’ll be able to say it’s done.”

The theme this year is “Carnival of Hope,” with many campsites creating settings to resemble a carnival.

“Some people really get into it,” he said. “Each year we try to come up with something that gets the teams excited.”

And excited they get, as the Medford event is one of the Top 10 relays nationally.

Many teams bring baskets of assorted items, he said. Last year, items included a vacation at a house in Ocean City and tickets to Phillies games.

“It could be something from a local store offering specials,” he said. ‘There’s a little something for everybody there.”

Many survivors, caregivers and those residents who simply care participate.

“It’s a part of our lives,” Cashen said. “It’s a unique feeling when you get into this environment.”

Visit www.relayforlife.org/medfordnj for more information.