The Emery County Relay for Life 2012 has kicked off. The theme for 2012 is “Dream it, hope it, cure it.” The relay will be held on July 13-14 at the Emery High track beginning at 5 p.m. Jessica Funk and Judi Bishop are co-chairs for the event. The kick-off event was held at the Castle Dale Senior Center. Joyce Swaner from the American Cancer Society was on hand to sign up teams. There will be raffles with quilts and other prizes at the relay. The tickets will go on sale soon.
Funk introduced the guest speaker for the evening, Laney Nielsen Olsen. Olsen said she is the daughter of James and Delaina Nielsen and she grew up in Clawson. Two years ago she headed up a team at relay for life with her friend Kristy Guymon. “My little sister Mistie had breast cancer and she fought it. Then later on she developed pain in her legs. The doctor told her husband to rub icy hot on her legs, but that didn’t help. They took her into the hospital and when they put a needle in her, a red rash shot up her legs. She was life flighted to the LDS hospital where they made six feet of incisions in her legs. She was placed in a hyperbaric chamber. She was in continual pain for the rest of her life. She took chemo again and was cancer free for five years, then it came back and she fought it again with chemo and radiation.”
She snuck in a cruise during that time. Her sister brought back turtle necklaces to give her sisters. The turtles are supposed to give good luck.
“I wasn’t supposed to help pick out a casket for my sister. To me cancer is public enemy number one. My Aunt Carrie Behling is dying right now of cancer. I received an email message from her daughter. She said, ‘Mom, is trying to write letters but the pain is getting harder to manage. She is weak and tired, but sitting with Mom, is like sitting with an angel.’
“With relay for life, it gives you a sense of being able to do something. Let’s do something. Two years ago we made crafts, caramel apples and our whole family came and we had Team Mistie. We all felt like we were suffering with Mistie and we took pictures and made her a book and she was able to look at it before she passed away. It made her feel good to know we did that for her. I have been doing a lot of research on where the money raised at relay goes. A lot of it goes for research scholarships. They are making great breakthroughs in research that keeps breast cancer cells from metastasizing. They are doing wonderful things in research. The American Cancer Society helps pass bills that aid cancer patients and helps to get new medicines on the market sooner. This makes my heart sing. They are doing wonderful things. This makes me emotional. I hate cancer, but I love what you are doing. Thank you.”
Funk said, “That’s why we’re here. We need to find people to join our team. We need teams to join. We need more people to share in the excitement so we can have a great relay. Relay is about serving others. I would like to see teams out doing service and have money donated in a team’s name. We plan to have a golf tournament fund raiser at Millsite on May 12 and a bass tournament in June at Huntington Reservoir. We have plans for a county wide yard sale on June 2 at every city park to raise money for relay. Those wanting a booth will pay a small fee which goes to relay.”
Get busy and get your team together we’re counting on your support to do our part to help combat this disease. A softball tournament and a 3 on 3 basketball tournament will be held to raise funds for relay for life and more information will be coming on these fun activities.
The Relay for Life 2012 committee members are: Jessica Funk Event Chair; Judi Bishop Co-chair and Sponsorship Chair; Joyce Swaner Community Management; Jamie Murdock Activity Chair; Al Shakespeare Entertainment Chair; Gerry Stottler Luminaria Chair; Jerry Stottler Logistics Chair Kristy Guymon Youth Chair; Patsy Stoddard Publicity Chair; Susan Austin Survivorship Chair; Joel Hatch Accounting Chair; Connie Jensen Accounting Co-Chair; Mark Justice softball tourney and 3 on 3 basketball chairman; and LaMar Guymon-bike ride chairman.
Teams signed up to date:
Committee team- The Bomb
Mark Justice Team -Carbon/Emery Insurance
LaRae Majors Team
James Davis – Team Nielson
Amanda Bjarnson-Team Crosland
Gerry Stotler -Emery County Volunteer Center
Sherri Brett- Team SherBear
Emery County Cheer Leaders Team
Team Green River
Lisa Lofley Team
Emery County Sheriff Team Cuff up Cancer.
Ty Funk Team Recycle for Relay for Life.
Relay for Life Kick-off 2012
"Jessica Funk holds the bucket for the drawing while Miss Olsen draws a winning ticket with Judi Bishop in the back."