It's a Wrap — 2011 Fenton Relay for Life Concludes

At least 37 teams and 358 participants helped raise money for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life at Fenton High School. Their goal was $111,000, and by the day of the event they had raised $42,852.98 of it.

On Saturday, Presbyterians with a Purpose were tops on the online fundraiser list, with $11,943. Their fundraising efforts included a garage sale. The State Bank was second with $3,569, and Team Tim Horton's had $3,488. The top fundraising participant, Marcy Deffendill, raised $3,313; Roger Terrill was second with $1,735 and Alicia Keen had $1,130.

History of the event

The annual Relay for Life event began in 1985, said speaker Bill Harris, from WJRT-TV, channel 12. A colorectal surgeon from Tacoma, Wash., Dr. Gordy Klatt, began looking for ways to raise money to fight cancer. "He was a runner, like me," Harris said.

Harris said Klatt rallied friends to donate money and run or walk with him, around a track for 24 hours. He raised $2,700, running and walking 83 miles.

At the end of the event, Klatt realized he had something going. He began organizing Relays for Life, held overnight throughout a 24-hour period, "because cancer never sleeps."

Harris had a sleepless night of his own 10 years ago, when he attended his first Relay for Life at Grand Blanc High School, to see what it was all about. He later went home but was so inspired by what he'd witnessed that he tossed and turned until 2 a.m. Giving up, Harris arose, tied his shoelaces and went back to run 20 laps at the track in memory of his father. The elder Harris passed away from lung cancer years ago, Bill Harris said.

The first, true Relay for Life was in 1986, a year after Klatt's first effort, Harris said. Since then, it's spread to 21 countries and raised more than $3 billion for the American Cancer Society.

Proceeds raised go to help people stay well (with a Quitline for smokers, for example), get well, find cures and fight back, a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society said. The goal is a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

Relay traditions

The event at Fenton High School included Relay for Life traditions to celebrate those who have survived cancer and to remember those who lost their fight. The Opening Ceremony, Survivor Ceremony helps to celebrate, lighting of luminaria candles inside decorated bags helps with remembrance. There also is the annual Closing Ceremony. During the Survivor Ceremony, cancer survivors and their caregivers made a lap around the site, some using wheelchairs and others with canes. Afterward, they shared dinner together. In addition, survivors participated in a balloon launch.

Male participants had some fun by dressing up as their favorite holiday characters to help raise money for the cause. Prior to the event, fundraisers included a toe nail trim for pets at Hartland Animal Hospital, and a flea market and car wash held by the McDonald's-Owen Rd. team. And a quilt was on display at The State Bank for a raffle fundraiser.

At the relay, a variety of fund-raising booths and games kept guests young and young at heart busy. Rhonda Hillman, mother of anti-bullying speaker and author Gabrielle Ford, of Fenton, said Ford was donating $5 from the sale of each copy of her book, "Still Dancing" to the American Cancer Society. Ford, who was bullied as a result of a neuromuscular condition she has, travels nationwide to talk to students about the effects of bullying.

Peter Grebeck helped his wife's Comerica Bank team. Comerica Bank has a branch in Fenton and participates in the Relay for Life to be a part of the community, Grebeck said.

More information on the relay, and how to help, is at relayforlife.org/fentonmi