THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 16, 1996 TAG: 9605150119
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
Talk a walk Saturday. It's for a good cause.
Specifically, it is the 1996 Relay for Life, a fund-raiser of the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.
From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, you and your friends can hike around the track at Art Jones Field at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy. One team member at a time walks or runs around the track in 30-minute shifts. Teams pledge to have one member on the track at all times.
Each team of 10 to 15 people, representing corporations, civic groups and families, is asked to raise $1,000. In 1995, three teams participated, raising about $5,000.
``This year's goal,'' said Mona Eby Driver, chairperson both years, ``is $15,000.''
Nearly 20 teams are participating in the event, which opens with Terry Zahn, WVEC-TV 13 newscaster, announcing the names of cancer survivors. Most of them will walk around the track at 9 a.m. and/or 8 p.m. The evening ceremony will include a candlelight vigil.
The event, sponsored by Obici Hospital and Supreme Foods, is as much a tribute to the survivors as it is an effort to raise money to raise awareness of cancer, and to fight the disease.
``The whole community can be involved in this event. All ages can come out and support this. Survivors are invited to join the ``celebration of life,'' walks,'' said Driver. ``Being a survivor myself, it's an emotional time when you walk with other survivors.''
She has survived several bouts with cancer and is fighting another round.
``In 1991 I had a mastectomy - left breast. That was cured through radiation and therapy. In 1993, I had a re-sectioning of the liver. They removed 75 per cent of the liver. It grows back swiftly. Breast cancer moves from the breast to the liver, from the liver to the bones,'' Driver said. ``In 1994, I had a bone marrow transplant.
``Last March, breast cancer was found in the liver. I had surgery. In April, it moved to the bone,'' she said. ``I finished radiation treatments, but the cancer is still not under complete control. Radiation is a long-term treatment.''
The relay day will be long, but promises to be fun. In addition to the regular events, there will be ``funny laps'' for participants and others. Games for children and food for everyone will be available, and there will be T-shirts for the participants.
The Relay for Life slogan is, ``There is no finish line until there is a cure.'' MEMO: The Relay for Life takes place from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at Art
Jones Field, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, 3373 Pruden Blvd. For
information, call 853-6638.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by FRANK ROBERTS
Mona Eby Driver is chairperson of the Relay for Life fund-raiser.
by CNB