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Survivors, families walk at Relay |
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Monday, 22 June 2009 |
 Carol Brown takes her cancer frustrations out on a car during the Relay’s annual “car bash.” Pilot Photo/Lyn Ward By Carol Anders Correspondent PLYMOUTH — Campers, tents and shelters surrounded the entire walking track at Centennial Park for this year’s Relay for Life event that took place Saturday through Sunday. The annual event is held to raise money for cancer research. Volunteers for this year’s event hoped to raise $60,000. Luminaries were available for purchase for those wishing to memorialize someone who was lost to the disease or who is a survivor. Helping to put sand in the bags for the luminaries were members of Boy Scout Troop # 256 and their leaders. Scott Compton, one of the assistant leaders of the troop, said it is a way to help the community and show the young members the importance of helping. Among the survivors walking in the relay were Judy Newberg and Debra Bixel. Newberg was celebrating her first year as a survivor. Bixel recently completed her treatments for cancer. She said she is grateful for those who fought to save her. She said, “I am happy to say that my soon to-be 16-year-old granddaughter, Christina Rotering, was able to have a bone marrow transplant in Jan-uary.” Rotering has had a three-year battle with cancer.
Brandy Mills, chairperson of the silent and live auction, said the number of donations from the community were “awesome.” Cheerleaders from Bremen High School, along with their coaches Ashton Hueni and Tori Prendergast, were in full dress for the opening ceremony. This is the first year they have participated. They said they wanted to find more ways to get involved in the community. Hueni said, “This is a great place for us to show our appreciation.” During the opening ceremonies, organizers Terri Biddle and Marika Kunder thanked the many team leaders for their help. Kunder said, “We are here for a common cause.” It was noted that this year alone, 1.4 million Americans will hear the diagnosis of cancer. and 552,340 will die from the disease. They said 226 of that number live in Marshall County.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 23 June 2009 )
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