×

Relay seeks countywide participation

MAKING RELAY PLANS — Emily Russell, left, and Tom Russell, co-chairs for the 2019 Jefferson County Relay for Life, look over plans for this summer’s fundraiser for the American Cancer Society with Tracy Barnhouse, community development manager with the ACS, at the January meeting held at Eastern Gateway Community College. This year’s event will be held from 6 p.m. June 21 to 9 a.m. June 22 in a new location — the Clarke Hinkle Stadium in Toronto. Countywide participation is encouraged. -- Janice Kiaski

STEUBENVILLE — Area residents pumped about participating in the 2019 Jefferson County Relay for Life met Jan. 8 at Eastern Gateway Community College to forge ahead with details related to making the American Cancer Society fundraiser a local success.

Co-chairs Emily Russell and Tom Simmons led the meeting along with Tracy Barnhouse of Noble County, the local relay’s new ACS community development manager, and a showing of other relay enthusiasts.

This year’s relay will be held from 6 p.m. on June 21 to 9 a.m. on June 22 in a new venue — the Toronto Jr.-Sr. High School Clarke Hinkle Stadium, located at 300 Myers St. in Toronto.

The relay raises funds to help the ACS with research, patient services, advocacy and education. It welcomes the public to participate, donate or just observe what is a community-oriented event offering food, live entertainment and fun in a setting that honors survivors and those who have lost their battle, according to organizers.

This year’s goal is to raise $100,000. The theme is a Disney-oriented one — “Where Cures Come True.” Each team is picking a Disney movie as its theme. Some taken include “Finding Nemo,” “Pete’s Dragon,” “Inside Out” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

The relay traditionally had been held at the Robert Kettlewell Memorial Stadium at Indian Creek High School in Wintersville, but upcoming construction necessitated a switch in location.

Items discussed included entertainment; a scavenger hunt; the concession stand to be handled by the Wal-Mart Distribution Center; sponsorships being sought from any interested businesses or organizations; the Road to Recovery lap; the luminary slide show in memory of those who have lost their fight with cancer; and the intention to have an area for children as an on-site activity to make and decorate cards for cancer survivors or those undergoing treatment.

Survivors to walk in the opening lap are being recruited and will be honored at an onsite dinner afterward. There were 81 cancer survivors registered to participate in the 2018 relay.

Upcoming team fundraisers also were shared.

Steppin’ for Sisters is sponsoring a two-day event at the Stratton Muicipal Building. There will be a craft and vendor show there from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 23 with concessions provided by Steppin’ for Sisters. It also will include a 50-50 drawing and a Chinese auction. The following day, March 24, the team will hold a quarter auction there with doors opening at 1 p.m. and the auction starting at 2 p.m. Admission of $5 includes one paddle with additional paddles available for $2 each. Team G-Force will provide concessions.

A relay-wide fundraiser involves a golf ball drop with prizes for first, second and third place.

After the meeting, Barnhouse said relay is for everybody.

“A lot of people don’t know what relay is,” Barnhouse said. “You’d be surprised how many people I run into who say, “Oh, that’s that run.’ We don’t run, we walk for our cancer patients now, for our survivors, we walk in memory of our people, and we’re trying to raise money,” Barnhouse said. “There isn’t going to be a one-size-fits-all cure. It’s going to be a gradual thing because what works for one, they’re going to have to work on to fix another cancer. We’re getting there,” Barnhouse said.

“The HPV vaccines that prevent different types of cancer is such a big step forward for us and to help our children right now and that has been a focus of ours, promoting it with physicians and parents to make sure they’re getting their kids vaccinated. It’s a two-shot series. Older individuals can do a three-step series, if they didn’t have the option to get it when they were younger. It’s about 11 and 12 when they enter puberty when they recommend children start being vaccinated for it. Their body is more accepting to it to help prevent cancer,” Barnhouse explained.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common virus that can lead to cancer-causing infections, according to the ACS website.

A lifelong Noble County resident, Barnhouse shared her relay story.

“I have relayed in Noble County for about 10 years as a team and on the leadership team,” she said, noting she will mark her four-year anniversary with the ACS in March.

“Relay is very special to me because I do have a special cancer story,” she said. “My first dealings with cancer was when I was 8 1/2 years old. I lost one of my grandfathers to lung cancer, and then when I was 14, I lost my other grandfather to colon cancer,” Barnhouse said. “My mom is a skin cancer survivor as is my father-in-law, and I have lots of cousins who are survivors, and I’ve lost lots of family members to cancer,” she said. “I don’t want the children in my family or anyone else’s children to hear the words ‘you have cancer’ again. I want this to be over, so we can look back on this and say we had fun in relay, and we kicked cancer’s butt, and now it’s done,” Barnhouse said.

Regardless of where it is held, the relay is a countywide event open to all and welcoming all, according to Barnhouse. “We want to invite everybody,” she said. “It’s not just about Wintersville where you were before or about Toronto right now, it’s not just about Steubenville, it’s about everybody — all of Jefferson County, and we want everyone to come join us.”

The next planning meeting will be held Feb. 12 in room 1504 at EGCC, 4000 Sunset Boulevard, beginning at 6 p.m.

Anyone interested in participating in relay is welcome to attend and get involved. Barnhouse can be contacted by phone at (740) 509-0196 or by e-mail to tracy.barnhouse@cancer.org.

Russell can be contacted via e-mail at emily.relay19@gmail.com.

For information about the ACS and services and programs it offers, visit cancer.org.

The cancer helpline number is (800) 227-2345. The Facebook page is Relay for Life of Jefferson County.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today