INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Relay For Life at the Citrus Bowl at Vero Beach High, the last of three such events in Indian River County for the year, raised more than $46,000 for cancer research through the American Cancer Society and saw nearly 600 people participate on more than 50 teams.
For 17 years, the high school’s football field and track have been converted to a makeshift campground as Relayers spend 16 hours walking the loop, symbolizing what it is to go through the cancer fight. Some tough it out all night long, while others take a break and head home for a few hours’ sleep in their own beds.
Regardless, someone from each team remains on the track, raising awareness and celebrating those who have survived their battle with cancer and remembering those who gave it a valiant effort.
“This is a celebration of the survivors and their caregivers,” said Honorary Chair Jim O’Connor, the Vero Beach City Manager. He added that the survivors’ presences at the annual Relay For Life event gives others hope that they, too, can be victorious.
Osceola Magnet Elementary School’s team brought out repeat Relayer Becky Seeley, the school secretary.
Walking at a quick pace while carrying her 2-year-old daughter, Audri, Seeley said her family’s been taking part in Relay for about six or seven years.
“I’m always on the team,” she said.
Seeley, herself, has survived melanoma – the most dangerous of the skin cancers – and has had family members and friends who have battled other cancers.
“This is something important to do as a family,” she said, adding that seeing the community’s support of survivors means a lot to her.
“It’s very touching,” Seeley said. “It makes me feel closer to those I’ve lost, just by being here.”
Along with raising funds for the American Cancer Society’s cancer research, Seeley said she wanted to bring awareness to skin cancer.
“This needs to be taken just as seriously” as the other cancers, Seeley said, adding that she never took it seriously until she was diagnosed with melanoma.
Dr. Ramesh Kumar, a radiation oncologist with Coastal Radiation Oncology, addressed the crowd of a several hundred prior to the Survivors’ Lap. He told the crowd that 500,000 people would die this year because of cancer.
“That sucks,” he said simply, drawing chuckles and cheers out of the audience. “It could be any one of us.”
He encouraged the young members of the crowd – those who grew up with a computer and an iPad – to take on Health Sciences, to be the ones to find the cure.
“Your fresh mind is going to be the one” to come up with the cancer solution, the doctor said.
He left the crowd with a challenge to follow three simple steps to help themselves avoid 70 percent of the cancers that plague us:
-If you smoke, quit – If you don’t smoke, don’t start
-Watch what you eat
-Get moving
He said only a small number of cancers are genetic, the rest come as a result of what we do to ourselves.
For husband and wife Relayers Paul and Sharon Bracci, this year’s event meant something a bit different than the one they walked in a few years back.
Paul Bracci, now a cancer survivor, had not yet faced his battle when they first participated in Relay For Life.
“I think it’s wonderful,” Sharon Bracci said of having such an event to celebrate survivors.
“I’m walking for you and all cancer survivors,” she added, referring to her husband, who found himself at a loss for words about the event.
This year, the Bracci’s were part of Piper Aircraft’s team.
Given that they have walked a couple times, Sharon said it wasn’t much different this year walking as a caregiver from the prior time.
“Truthfully, I don’t think it’s any different,” she said, explaining that she feels the same emotions as she did before. “My heart goes out to all” the survivors.
Deeanna Easlick, a 9-year breast cancer survivor, has been walking in Relay For Life for nine years.
“We all need to celebrate being survivors,” she said, noting that even those who have not actually had cancer most likely know someone who has and has helped them get through it.
Among the many teams participating in the Relay For Life of Indian River event May 4 into May 5, was Costa d’Este – a first time participant.
Megan De Souza, the Costa d’Este spa’s team captain, decided to form a team this year after having heard from someone else that they were participating.
“We like to give back to the community,” De Souza said. She added that when she raised the idea amongst the staff, the team quickly formed.
“It was simple,” she said.
The team raised more than $1,300 through bake sales at the spa and through individual donations to team members. At the event, they sold chances to win a facial and a Swedish massage, trying to raise some last-minute funds.
Each team was encouraged to represent a country – and quite a few were represented, ranging from England and Germany to Bora Bora and Easter Island.
To determine the best campsites, three judges were selected to assess the teams’ creativity and spirit – Vero Beach Mayor Pilar Turner, Sheriff Deryl Loar, and School Board member Claudia Jimenez.
“I’m the expert,” said Mayor Turner, who had judged the sites during the Relay For Life of the Beaches event at Riverside Park in April. “It’s great fun to see the energy” the teams have.
Only half way around the track, Turner said there were a few standouts.
Team Mexico – Rosewood Magnet Elementary School – was one of them.
“The spirit at that booth will be hard to beat,” she said.
