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June 24. 2012 10:56PM
McKenzie Anderson and Emily Gaumond dressed for success in the Goo Goo for Gaga lap during the Salem Relay for Life at Salem High School on Saturday. (Julie Hanson Photo)
Cancer survivors continue the fight in Salem
McKenzie Anderson and Emily Gaumond dressed for success in the Goo Goo for Gaga lap during the Salem Relay for Life at Salem High School on Saturday. (Julie Hanson Photo)
SALEM — Forty-eight teams came to “celebrate, remember and fight back” at the Salem Relay for Life this weekend.
More than 100 people walked in the survivor lap to kick off the event at the Salem High School track.
Most of the participants had been touched by cancer in their own lives. They are driven by a desire to help the American Cancer Society save lives and assist cancer patients through its research and programs.
Diane Brooks-Sherry was the event's first survivor speaker eight years ago. Since then, it's become a family tradition for the Sherrys to participate. Diane's husband, Bill, and their 18-year-old son also survived cancer, she said.
“At one point we had three generations living with thyroid cancer,” Diane Sherry said.
This relay was especially hard on Diane, who lost both parents within the last year and a half. Her father was missed on the team this year, but the family continues to do their part to fund cancer research. Cancer was once considered a death sentence, but due to medical advances people are living longer after diagnosis, Bill Sherry said.
“You can walk around this track tonight and meet people alive today due to research by the American Cancer Society,” he said.
Diane Sherry is also seeing tangible results within the last decade. No treatment was available for her type of thyroid cancer when she joined forces with Relay for Life. One treatment is now available, and clinical trials are under way for others, she said.
“It's literally shown real progress in the eight years we've done this,” she said. “I can see a measurable change.”
Terri Conroy has been participating in the Relay for Life for five years. Her team, the PB&J's, was named after her mother Pat, aunt Barbara, and her father, Jack, who all died of cancer. Unfortunately, another J was added when Conroy's sister lost her mother-in-law, Joan, to cancer.
The PB&J's team has raised about $45,000 since its inception and expects to bring the total over $60,000 with this year's donations. The team was named the number one fundraising team in Salem last year after raising about $15,000.
“It's awesome,” Conroy said. “It's a very humbling and proud moment for me.”
Team PB&J's has grown to more than 36 members and has no intention of slowing down.
The 500 participants in this year's relay stayed upbeat throughout the night. Many donned costumes for theme laps, including Goo Goo for Gaga, a zombie lap, and disco for a cure. At nightfall, glowing bags circled the track, each dedicated to a life touched by cancer.
Brigit Ryan-Souza of the American Cancer Society estimated about $124,000 was raised at the event, but donations are still being accepted through August.
For more information or to make a donation, visit www.relayforlife.org/salemnh.
jhanson@newstote.com
More than 100 people walked in the survivor lap to kick off the event at the Salem High School track.
Most of the participants had been touched by cancer in their own lives. They are driven by a desire to help the American Cancer Society save lives and assist cancer patients through its research and programs.
Diane Brooks-Sherry was the event's first survivor speaker eight years ago. Since then, it's become a family tradition for the Sherrys to participate. Diane's husband, Bill, and their 18-year-old son also survived cancer, she said.
“At one point we had three generations living with thyroid cancer,” Diane Sherry said.
This relay was especially hard on Diane, who lost both parents within the last year and a half. Her father was missed on the team this year, but the family continues to do their part to fund cancer research. Cancer was once considered a death sentence, but due to medical advances people are living longer after diagnosis, Bill Sherry said.
“You can walk around this track tonight and meet people alive today due to research by the American Cancer Society,” he said.
Diane Sherry is also seeing tangible results within the last decade. No treatment was available for her type of thyroid cancer when she joined forces with Relay for Life. One treatment is now available, and clinical trials are under way for others, she said.
“It's literally shown real progress in the eight years we've done this,” she said. “I can see a measurable change.”
Terri Conroy has been participating in the Relay for Life for five years. Her team, the PB&J's, was named after her mother Pat, aunt Barbara, and her father, Jack, who all died of cancer. Unfortunately, another J was added when Conroy's sister lost her mother-in-law, Joan, to cancer.
The PB&J's team has raised about $45,000 since its inception and expects to bring the total over $60,000 with this year's donations. The team was named the number one fundraising team in Salem last year after raising about $15,000.
“It's awesome,” Conroy said. “It's a very humbling and proud moment for me.”
Team PB&J's has grown to more than 36 members and has no intention of slowing down.
The 500 participants in this year's relay stayed upbeat throughout the night. Many donned costumes for theme laps, including Goo Goo for Gaga, a zombie lap, and disco for a cure. At nightfall, glowing bags circled the track, each dedicated to a life touched by cancer.
Brigit Ryan-Souza of the American Cancer Society estimated about $124,000 was raised at the event, but donations are still being accepted through August.
For more information or to make a donation, visit www.relayforlife.org/salemnh.
jhanson@newstote.com
