It was less than a week ago when Danni Guinn and her mother, Wendy Guinn, found themselves in the American Cancer Society's Discovery Shop and inspiration struck.
”We just decided, why the heck not?” Danni Guinn said, explaining that, at that moment, she and her mom decided to form a Relay for Life team -- just five days before the big event.
About two years ago, Wendy Guinn was diagnosed with Stage 2 cervical cancer. Last Monday, she and her daughter decided it was time to give back.
So on Saturday, with a pirate flag in hand and a patch over one eye, Danni Guinn joined hundreds of others whose lives have been touched by cancer and walked the track at College of the Redwoods.
”We're the pirates of persistence, making cancer walk the plank,” Danni Guinn said, with a laugh, before seriously talking about how much the event meant to her mom. “She's very bright today.”
The 25th annual 24-hour event kicked off at 10 a.m. Saturday, as Humboldt County participants joined millions across the country in celebrating the lives of those who have battled cancer, remembering loved ones lost and fighting back against the disease that has brought havoc to countless lives.
Funds raised from the event help fight cancer in the local community.
Many said that even sagging local and national economies have not reduced the generosity of the local community, which they said has continued to offer pledges for the event in record numbers.
Local event chair Kathryn McHugh said the annual fundraiser would simply not be possible without the generosity of local businesses, like Wildberries, which sponsored KHUM's 24-hour broadcast from the event.
Noting that the list of sponsors and donors was too long to name, McHugh said a special thank you to CalFire, which supplied the staff to cook three meals to be provided to relay participants.
McHugh said the event is all about celebration, and honoring the people, like the Guinns, whose lives have been connected by this horrible disease. With that, tears began to flow down McHugh's face.
”Anyone who works with cancer patients never wears mascara -- we cry all the time,” she said, smiling through the tears. “You might hear a happy story, you might hear a sad story, but you always cry.”
And as the Survivor Lap indicated, nearly everyone at Relay for Life -- big or small, young or old -- has a story.
Cindy McWhorter said she was walking for her sister, Jane, who died of lung cancer in February after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor 18 years earlier.
”Jane had the most incredible attitude and sense of humor, and she was not going to let this beat her,” McWhorter said.
Standing beside the track as the survivors finished their lap to open Saturday's event, Edna Seitz of Eureka said she doesn't have cancer, but wanted to support the cause. Saturday, she found her story.
”It's just wonderful,” she said with tears in her eyes as she watched dozens of cancer survivors pass by. Some, too young to walk, were carried on their parents' shoulders. Others, too old or frail to make the lap, were pushed in wheelchairs.
”It just tears at my heart strings,” Seitz said.
Thadeus Greenson/The Times-Standard (Posted 7/12/09)
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