Coming together to stand against a common foe, the residents of Howard County amassed at Western Regional Park June 13 and 14 to bring attention to the fight against cancer.

For some, it was an intensely personal journey.

"I felt like I was swimming around in the unknown" said Cooksville resident Peggy Schultz of life since cancer diagnosis three months ago. A pupil personnel worker at Glenelg High School, Schultz has been diagnosed with Lymphoma.

"I asked my doctor, Scott Maurer, when do you become a survivor and he told me, 'The day after you're diagnosed,'" said Schultz, who attended the Relay for Life at Western Regional Park in Cooksville.

A yearly event in Howard County for 14 years, this is only the second year the relay has been held in western Howard County. This new relay is in addition to the annual relay held the first weekend of June, in Columbia.

It was while attending the Columbia-based relay that Jason Copely, senior income manager for the American Cancer Society for Western Maryland, was approached by a participant and told the new Western Regional Park was due to open, and would be a great place for a relay. Copely checked it out and was surprised by the level of community participation.

"The Columbia event is more business oriented, but this one is really grassroots," he said. "For an event that is only two years old, it really looked like the work of seasoned professionals."

The event began with opening ceremonies, during which Betty Frey, director of the Western Howard County Senior Center and the event chair, announced that 14-year survivor Bernice Rutledge would be the event's honorary chair. Frey placed a white banner on Rutledge and began reading the names of the survivors as Rutledge and the others circled the track for the first lap.

But before that, even, a survivors' dinner was held inside the community center. The dinner was attended by 48 survivors and their guests. Rutledge called it a very emotional event.

Terry Pitt, owner of Caviar Catering in Glenwood, who recently learned she has cancer, donated the dinner -- "we had pulled pork, pit beef, coleslaw, baked beans and cornbread," Rutledge said. "Terry's husband sang a song he wrote for her called "Beautiful Survivor" and Betty read a poem about how those with cancer are everyone's heroes. There wasn't a dry eye in the place."

Rutledge, who had two teams registered this year -- Bernice's Buddies and Bernice's Buddies Too -- said she is really overcome at times by the level of caring and kindness she witnesses throughout the year and at the culminating event.

After the survivors finish the first lap, teams took to the track and keep one member walking or running for the next 12 hours, until 6 a.m. the next morning.

New teams join in

The Howard County Library team, headed by co-captains Kristen Blount and Jaye Holly, had more than 20 members and brought along Sneaks the Cat, to the delight of children in the park.

Team member Jane Conlon, a children's services librarian at the Glenwood branch, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer 24 years ago and spoke of the creative ways people found to raise money

"Josie O'Donnell, a local resident, held a jewelry sale at the community center and she bought your old gold jewelry and gave part of the money to you and donated a percentage to the relay. What a painless way to donate," she said.

A new team this year, Team Big Doug, walked in memory of Woodbine resident Doug Parker, creator of the e-School newsletter and coach of 14 local sports teams. Parker died May 12 of pancreatic cancer. Brother and sister, Hunter and Melissa Shaughness, were two of the 41 members of the team and said they were there because Parker always wanted to help others and they were doing the same. Sen. Alan Kittleman was one of the co-captains of Team Big Doug.

The Rev. Lisa Bandel-Sparks, pastor of Lisbon United Methodist Church was back for a second year with her team. It was Bandel-Sparks who encouraged Schultz to attend the event. Schultz did, and while she left early due to post treatment fatigue, she was glad she came.

"It was a real feel-good event for me," Schultz said. "Having people applauding for you as you go around the track is uplifting and the whole community was there. I visited the Curves tent and everyone was so glad to see me. I'm a member at the Glenwood Curves, they donated $13,000."

Survivors have their say

In addition to the live auction of a quilt made by Bernice Rutledge and friends, new this year was a silent auction. Another fun addition was the Miss Relay Pageant, which featured 13 male volunteers dressed to the nines in fancy frocks and sashaying among the gathered, collecting votes in the form of monetary donations.

Survivors, easily identifiable in purple shirts, could be found sharing their stories when not on the track.

Barbara Sachs of Ellicott City, a six-year survivor of colon cancer, remarked how she could get on a soapbox and prevail on people to make sure and get their exam.

"Another 100 people could be saved," Sachs said.

Stewart Frazier, another Ellicott City resident, attended last year and came back this year. The 22-year survivor said attending these events keeps him motivated and he likes the walking. He says it helps him feel better.

Copely thinks it's one event that makes everyone feeling better. Despite a down economy, this year's goal of $80,000 was reached and passed. As of June 23, the total came in at $81,242 and teams are still accepting donations until August.

"Whatever state the economy is in people are still battling cancer," Copley said. "And people still want to make a difference."

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