Connie Ballenger is manning her station next to the silent auction of Howard County's 13th Relay for Life. She has written a book using that same name, chronicling the county's first 12 years of relaying, running, jogging, walking and raising money for the American Cancer Society. All 75 teams, all 1,000-plus participants, all 274 survivors, who have attended a reception in their honor at Hammond High School, where the event is being held, are working to rid the nation of cancer's hold.

Connie brings back memories for me of the death of my brother, who was taken at age 40, in 1992. Of my aunt, who left us when she was 62. Of my closest friend at age 42. And a friend who is in remission, but who knows she might, at any time, lose her leg.

Howard County's Relay for Life, held as an overnighter from 7 p.m., June 6 to 8 a.m., June 7, was a party with a glorious purpose. The theme was "Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back," but I see it more as keeping the eye on the prize of life, the prize of beating the disease that will be diagnosed for 806 Howard countians this year, as noted by the ACS.

The stories of the event volunteers and survivors are as varied as they are. Listen outside the party's moon bounce and hear one say that his father is a bladder cancer survivor. Listen alongside the disc jockey's stage and hear that a daughter is in remission from lymphoma. Get a massage for a buck a minute, and hear that a neighbor has Hodgkin's disease.

A grandmother, Dee Gregory, 73, of Laurel, was diagnosed with cancer six years ago. So was her 4-year-old granddaughter, whose kidney had to be removed because of the disease.

"She and I went through chemo and radiation together," says a jovial Dee, happy to be alive. "Both of us were bald. But now she's 10 and plays soccer. It could come back, I know that. But once you have cancer, you feel you can handle it again. I say, 'enjoy life.' "

And hear the words of Michael McPherson, 78, of Columbia, who encourages every man over 40 to get screened for prostate cancer. He has been in remission for three years. "I'm as active as any 40-year-old," he says.

And note that Diana Ulman, mother of Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, is a survivor, as are her husband and younger son. "If we could get all the info and all the care to people who need it, we could save 250,000 people a year," Diane says. "One in every two women and one in every three men will get cancer. We lost 3,000 people one time (at the World Trade Center), but we lose 70,000 young people a year to cancer."

The first lap around Hammond's track is for survivors only. Their names and length of remission are read out: Mary Johnson, 22 years. Judy Ragland, 47 years. Amelia Atkins, three months ...

It is hard not to tear up at the solemnity, yet there is joyfulness at understanding that these walkers have, so far, beaten the disease. Then, teams walk, and the extraordinary ultra runner Melissa Simmens begins her 12-consecutive-hour jog around the track. Why run for 12 hours straight? "Cancer never sleeps," she says.

At dusk, 2,000 luminaria are lit, each in honor of or in memory of a loved one: Judy Lyons, Emily Davis, Jim Piersall, Aunt Molly... Each candle netted $10 for the ACS. Along the bleachers, lighted candles spell out "hope" and "cure."

As of Sunday, the relay had raised $266,674.

Volunteer Connie Ballenger has been to many relays. The history she has written, "Howard County's Relay for Life: The First Twelve Years (1996-2007)," is offered for a donation of $10 each, all of which goes to the American Cancer Society. E-mail her at cballe1031@verizon.net.

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