The combined Salem and Centralia Relay for Life soared past its $25,000 goal over the weekend.
Chairs Christie Krieg and Michelle Murphy were ecstatic when announcing the relay had raised $40,370 by the end of the evening. They note the amount will go higher as teams still have money to turn in and continue fundraising until August 31st. Some matching fund money is also not included in the total.
The goal was almost reached with just the $23,000 that was raised during the event at the north Centralia High School Parking Lot on Saturday night. The relay had to be cut short due to the fear severe weather was on the way. While the luminaria ceremony was held, they were not lit due to the earlier time when it was still light. The 669 who purchased luminaria were given a chance to take the bags for their loved ones with them.
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital Surgeon Dr. Marilee Brandt noted the importance of Relay for Life and the money that is being raised for cancer research that is bringing down the number of deaths.
“In the 1970s 1 in 4 women who had breast cancer would die of breast cancer. Now it’s about 1 in 50 or 1 in 40 that’s a remarkable difference and that’s because we’ve gone from treating the whole tumor and looking at the tumor as the cancer to looking closer not just at the cells but the biology and genetics of the cell and the molecular status of the cell and the cancer. That is where the research dollars go for. That is why there is more hope here for people today than there was 5 years and certainly 10 years ago.”
Dr. Brandt and Oncology Nurse Navigator at St. Mary’s Hospital Nancy Mollohan were presented with plaques for being the presenting sponsors of this year’s Relay for Life.
Cancer Survivor Aspen Clegg who is a nurse at Asberry and Associates shared the story of her fight against breast cancer that included 32 rounds of radiation and seven surgeries. She was applauded when she announced she had been cancer-free for two years. Clegg noted she was not in a high-risk group and encouraged those in attendance to take preventative measures again cancer.
“Nobody knows your body better than you. Do monthly self-breast examines. Stay up to date on your mammograms, and know that it could happen to you no matter what your age. Early detection is everything. My story could have been very different but it wasn’t and I will never take my family for granted again.”
Clegg concluded by thanking her family and friends for all their assistance and said she is here today because her faith overcame her fear.
The event was held drive-in style this year with those attending asked to stay with their vehicles unless visiting the various food and activity booths. Some normal relay events were also missing including the Survivor, Caregiver, and team laps and the walking track normally open throughout the evening. The Emergency Responders lap went on after the overall event had closed as the anticipated severe weather never arrived.
Left to right SSM Health representatives Dr. Marilee Brandt and Nancy Mollohan are presented with plaques for being presenting sponsors of the relay by Christie Krieg as co-chair Michelle Murphy looks on. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Cancer Survivor Aspen Clegg discusses her battle to becoming cancer-free. Co-chairs Michelle Murphy and Christie Krieg look on. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Booths set up under the Centralia High School football stadium for Saturday night’s Marion County Relay for Life. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
