April 2, 2004

A look at 2004 volunteers for Relay For Life

By Carol Rosen
Editor

Like most of us, the people heading up the 2004 Willow Glen Relay For Life have been touched by cancer. They are donating their time for the May 15-16 event at the Willow Glen High School track where they hope to raise $140,000.
Jennifer Barry is the event chairperson. In May 2001, she started looking for something to fill up her time between projects. “When I saw the posting for the American Cancer Society’s Willow Glen Relay For Life, I immediately thought this would be a great opportunity.”

Cancer affected both of Barry’s parents. Her father is a Melanoma survivor and her mother survived two bouts of ovarian cancer and one with Melanoma.

“As an adult, and only weeks after I found out I was pregnant with my daughter Emily, my mother fell ill to ovarian cancer for a second time. The idea of the cancer returning was unimaginable,” said Barry. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make sure I can live to see every possible experience motherhood has to offer. Most of all I’m volunteering to make sure that my daughter has a mom. I ‘Relay’ so that one day children won’t know what it is like to see a parent fall ill or die due to cancer.”

Survivorship Chair Kathleen Pizzo was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 1997. Ten days after her lumpectomy, doctors recommended a mastectomy. She endured 10 months of chemotherapy followed by six weeks of radiation therapy.

“My children were 14, 12 and 8 and very proud that their mom was going to do whatever it took to beat the cancer so that I would see them graduate from high school, go to college and get married,” said Pizzo. “I appreciate all that my family did for me during that year. This is my second year as a team captain and survivorship chair. I Relay For Life so that there is a cure for all cancers.”

Julie Harris is the team captain coordinator. Her personal experience with cancer started two and a half years ago when her mom was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer.

“Searching on line, I came upon the American Cancer Society Web site and read about Relay For Life. Getting involved, helped me channel my energy in a positive way to help my mother and others living with cancer. Over the last two years, our team has raised close to $40,000 in honor of my mother. Her tenacity and determination kept her fighting until she succumbed to the disease Nov. 15.”

Harris’ grandmother and uncles survived cancer, but an aunt, her mother-in-law and her grandfather died from the disease, and a close friend was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. “Due to advances in cancer treatment, my friend is doing well now,” Harris said.

She plans to Relay in her mother’s memory. “I Relay so that one day we will never have to see our loved ones suffer from this disease. I relay for my children and future generations so one day we can eradicate this devastating disease that affects so many people.”

Debbie Evans, registration and accounting co-chair of this year’s Relay, was a teenager when her grandmother died of cancer. Four years ago, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Evans was devastated.

“My mom never let this horrible disease get the best of her. She insisted on going home the night of the operation so she could get on with her life. She wasn’t going to let cancer stop her.”

Her first involvement with the Willow Glen Relay For Life was four years ago after a close friend’s bout with breast cancer. Evans wanted to do something to help her fight cancer. “I not only do the Relay for her but for my parents and for the millions of cancer survivors out there.

Evan’s co-chair for registration and accounting is Sherry Rodriguez. Four years ago a good friend asked her to help in a project she was putting together after her bout with breast cancer. “Even though I had no knowledge of Relay For Life, I helped in the most moving 24 hours of my life.”

Since her first Relay, Rodriguez has worked at the Willow Glen Relay event. This year, the event means even more to her. Her father has an inoperable tumor on his brain stem. He currently is doing fine. Two weeks after last May’s Relay, she lost her father-in-law to cancer.

“These two very important people, and all the people that have to deal with or have dealt with this terrible disease, are the reason I Relay year after year,” she said.

Kelly Duvall, this year’s publicity chair, Relays for her grandmother and her mom. She never met her grandmother who died of breast cancer. Her mom was first diagnosed in 1986 when a routine mammogram detected a small malignant tumor. A lumpectomy and radiation therapy left her with a good prognosis.

However, in 1997, Duvall’s mother was diagnosed with a different type of cancer in the same breast. She had six rounds of chemotherapy and a bi-lateral mastectomy. The treatment appeared successful until late March. A precautionary bone scan showed her breast cancer had metastasized and is now in various bones.

“I Relay for the grandmother I never knew,” Duvall said. “I Relay for my mom’s continuing battle with this horrible disease. I Relay for me, for my daughter and with the lofty goal that a cure can be found!”

You too can help these people, yourself and others by joining this year’s Relay. There’s still plenty of time to get a team together. Teams typically include 10 to 20 people, although if you can’t up 20 people, the committee will help you find a team to join or add people to your team.

Each team has a theme and decorates tents in the track’s infield. The teams are sponsored by friends, co-workers or corporations in addition to families, schools, church groups and various civic groups. Most of the hard work happens before relay day, making the 24-hour event a celebration of survivors, and, of course for raising money.

If you are interested in getting a team together, or participating with another team, contact Harris at juleshg@hotmail.com or contact the Cancer Society’s office at (408) 688-0100.