Stepping out to fight cancer

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on June 4, 2016

Cancer survivors kick off the annual Relay For Life walking the first lap around the track.

There was a carnival atmosphere for a serious cause at the Unionville High School track for the annual Relay for Life on Friday night.

The event is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society where teams spend the night walking relays on the track around the football field.

Leon Spencer, a former mayor of Kennett Square and a cancer survivor himself, likened the event to Mardi Gras.

Team Mini Steps kick around a beachball as part pf the celebratory atmosphere.

“As much as Mardi Gras is a celebration, so is Relay for Life. We know people who have gone on before us who fought the battle, but did not win, but that is no reason in and of itself for us to give up,” Spencer said. “There’s still research to be done. There’s still reason for us to celebrate the life that we have and make sure that we do it to the fullest.”

American Cancer Society staff partner Stephanie Glancey said the event is definitely a celebration of cancer survivors, but also a remembrance of those who have died as well as a pledge to fight back against the disease and hopefully find a cure one day.

“All night, teams will be taken to the track to walk laps to show that cancer never sleeps, so neither will we,” Glancey said.

She said 20 to 25 team from schools, churches, the Longwood Rotary and Kendal-Crosslands were involved with as many as 350 to 400 people signed up to participate.

T(eam) Werk kicks back as part of their attempt to have a "funky time."

The event kicked off with a lap around the track by cancer survivors, and it finishes Saturday morning with a community breakfast in the school cafeteria.

In between there were people throwing Frisbees, swinging hula-hoops, and kicking beach balls.

Many of the participants camp out in tents overnight. One such group was T(eam) Werk.

Group spokesman Sam Wofford, a Unionville graduate, described his team as “a group of like-minded individuals who came out to support a good cause and have a funky time.” He added, “The American Cancer Society is a good organization.”

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.