More than 200 take part in area Relay for Life
WALKERS — Fifty employees of Weirton Medical Center participated in the Brooke-Hancock American Cancer Society Relay For Life on Saturday evening at the Follansbee Middle School athletic track. More than 200 people in 17 groups registered for the six-hour walk, with the goal of raising $59,000 for cancer-prevention research. Members of the hospital team participating were, from left, Brian Virtue, Becky Anderson, Joie Szuch and Sydney Virtue. -- Mark Law
SURVIVORS — More than 200 people participated in the Brooke-Hancock American Cancer Society Relay For Life on Saturday evening at the Follansbee Middle School athletic track. Two cancer survivors, Cathy Lauck of Weirton and her father-in-law, Howard Lauck of Wellsburg, were two of the cancer survivors on hand. Howard Lauck is holding Cathy’s son, Ethan. -- Mark Law
WALKERS — Fifty employees of Weirton Medical Center participated in the Brooke-Hancock American Cancer Society Relay For Life on Saturday evening at the Follansbee Middle School athletic track. More than 200 people in 17 groups registered for the six-hour walk, with the goal of raising $59,000 for cancer-prevention research. Members of the hospital team participating were, from left, Brian Virtue, Becky Anderson, Joie Szuch and Sydney Virtue. -- Mark Law
SURVIVORS — More than 200 people participated in the Brooke-Hancock American Cancer Society Relay For Life on Saturday evening at the Follansbee Middle School athletic track. Two cancer survivors, Cathy Lauck of Weirton and her father-in-law, Howard Lauck of Wellsburg, were two of the cancer survivors on hand. Howard Lauck is holding Cathy’s son, Ethan. -- Mark Law
Trending
FOLLANSBEE -- More than 200 people participated in the Brooke-Hancock American Cancer Society Relay For Life on Saturday evening at the Follansbee Middle School athletic track.
Cancer survivors walked the first lap and their names were read by Dave Secrist, emcee and co-chairman.
Two of the survivors are Howard Lauck of Wellsburg and his daughter-in-law Cathy Lauck of Weirton.
Howard Lauck is a four-year survivor of prostate cancer and Cathy is a three-year survivor of melanoma.
Howard said he was walking because "it is for a good cause."
Cathy has a special connection to the Relay For Life. She was dating her future husband Steve Lauck, one of the Relay For Life co-leaders. She participated in the event while they were dating. Just prior to her marriage, she was trying on her wedding dress and the melanoma on her back was pinching her wedding dress. After their wedding and honeymoon, Cathy said she went to a doctor to get the mole on her back checked and it tested positive for melanoma. She believes her participating in Relay For Life and her wedding led to the discovery of the cancer and saved her life.
The couple now have a son, Ethan.
"He is our blessing," she said.
Her husband said one of the messages to come out of the Relay For Life is to get yearly checkups.
"Get your mammogram, Pap smear and get your skin checked. And always wear sunscreen," he said.
Steve said he started helping with the Brooke-Hancock Relay For Life about 20 years ago. It started with his cousin, Della Serevicz, who is now a 20-year survivor of breast cancer.
Tammy Hornick, Brooke-Hancock Relay For Life chairman, said the walk is about making a difference in the fight against cancer.
"We get together as a community to show those suffering from cancer they will be supported, and those that lost their life will not be forgotten. We are all here with the common reason to finish the fight against cancer," Hornick said.
The goal this year is to raise $59,000. She said $26,000 has already been raised through team fundraisers and corporate sponsors.
Those wanting to make a donation can do so online at www.RelayForLife.org/brookehancockwv.
"All the money raised allows the American Cancer Society to save lives through research and screenings. We are on a life-changing journey for those battling cancer and those we lost so we don't hear those three words --you have cancer," she said.
Hornick said the Brooke-Hancock Relay For Life was celebrating its 20th anniversary.
The participants walked for six hours beginning at 6 p.m.
More than 200 luminarias lined the athletic track. Each listed the names of those fighting cancer, the survivors and in memory of those who lost their life to cancer.
A balloon launch was held at midnight. Each of the balloons had a LED bulb inside and a name was attached to the balloon. The lights at the field were turned off as the balloons were launched.
Steve Lauck said participation in the Relay For Life has been declining over the years. He said there were more than 600 participants 10 years ago. He said the Relay For Life is competing against a lot of other worthy causes in the area.
Weirton Medical Center had a large team of 50 walkers at the relay. They all wore T-shirts stating, "Walking for a cure."
Fellow workers and friends of Carolyn Walnoha, an employee at Valley Haven Geriatric Center in Beech Bottom and who is currently battling lung cancer, also walked in the relay.
Brittney McFarland, director of nursing at the center, said they were there to show their support for Walnoha. They wore T-shirts stating, "Let faith be stronger than your fear."
(Law can be contacted at mlaw@heraldstaronline.com.)