MORGANTOWN — Monongalia County residents banded together in the fight against cancer Friday June 8 during the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) annual Relay for Life.
“Everyone knows someone who knows someone with cancer,” said David Staten, team coach and WVU team ambassador.
That includes Kelly Gillespie, Mon County’s event lead for three years. Her father, Tom Mascola, 68, is a three-time cancer survivor.
“It means so much,” Mascola said of the community’s involvement while walking the Westwood Middle School track with his two nieces, ages 2 and 4.
Before the event started there were 28 registered teams and Gillespie estimated at least 300 people were at the track for the opening ceremony. Staten said more people show up close to the luminaria ceremony, which he called “the most emotional part of the night.” Hundreds of luminarias lined the track representing someone who lost their fight to cancer and are lit after dark, Staten said.
The theme of this year’s relay was “one more holiday.” Team tents representing Easter, National Superhero Day, National Fairy Tale day and more were setup around the track. Some teams tents had held raffles to raise money; others had cornhole.
Roger Williams and Lisa Keller, team captains representing the in-patient pharmacy at J.W. Ruby Memorial, decorated their tent in a castle theme with a moat made of cloth filled with paper fish. Keller, dressed like Maleficent, said the team was most proud of the links of hope – a drawbridge chain made of paper links with inspirational messages.
Williams credited the entire department for its help with brainstorming, donations and fundraising, which the group begins in February.
Gillespie said $27,000 was raised prior to the start of the relay; all money raised goes to the ASC.
Dr. Ivan Martinez, a cancer researcher with the WVU Cancer Institute, said his research is funded by the ACS. His research focuses on understanding the impact that RNA, which acts as a messenger for DNA, has on cancer.
“It’s about more than just fundraising,” Staten said. “It’s about celebrating those who have made it this far, recognizing caregivers who live with cancer too and remembering those who lost their fight with cancer.”
