Before Friday, Columbus residents Pam Lewis and Cheryl Weichmann had not seen each other since they were high school classmates several years ago.
“We actually haven”t seen each other since high school,” Lewis said in a slightly shocked tone. “And that”s been, gosh, many, many years.
“It”s strange how you can come to something like this and see people that you haven”t seen in such a long time,” Lewis added. “Now we know that we have something in common that we didn”t the last time we saw each other.”
While many friends share secrets, apartments or books, Lewis and Weichmann share something most do not.
“We always knew we had a lot in common, but now we know that we have cancer in common,” said Lewis.
“Everyone out here is different. We all come from different families and different backgrounds,” Weichmann added. “But we all have something that bonds us together.”
Weichmann and Lewis were two of more than 200 cancer survivors who attended the Friday night opening ceremony for the 2009 Lowndes County Relay for Life at the Magnolia Bowl. The large group of survivors ranged from 11 years old to 89 years old and had been battling cancer anywhere from a few months to nearly 30 years.
The relay lasted from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday, and drew more than 3,000 people. During the event, organizers collected more than $127,000 to benefit American Cancer Society cancer research, according to relay Chairman Lenny Ring
“I was originally diagnosed with cancer in 2004, so I”ve been a survivor for about five years now,” said New Hope resident Robert McKay, who attended the relay with his wife, Elaine, also a cancer survivor.
“It”s just a good feeling to come out here and know that this many people support you and care about you,” McKay added. “I”ve been to the relay once before, and I always enjoy coming. I”ve just been walking around talking with friends I haven”t seen in years.”
After completing a lap around the field with fellow survivors to begin the 12-hour relay — all the while being applauded by other event attendees — many of the survivors sported wide grins as they embraced family members and friends.
“It just means so much to know that people really care about you,” said Columbus resident Annie Mixon, a 22-year cancer survivor who has been to the relay the past five years. “It just shows all of us that hope is out there and it is definitely alive in the community.”
During the event”s opening ceremonies, survivor guest speakers shared words of encouragement with their fellow survivors.
“Being a cancer survivor lets you know who you are and who you want to be, whether it”s a mother, a father, a sister or a brother,” said Lana Johnson, a survivor guest speaker. “We all just thank God almighty for giving us the strength to survive and push on day by day.
“Just keep the faith and never let go,” Johnson added. “You will be able to make the journey. And when you do complete it, a blessing you will receive.”
Ring also shared uplifting words with his fellow cancer survivors.
“You just don”t know how much this means,” Ring said to the crowd, briefly holding back tears. “The reason we are all out here tonight is because we have a mission to fight this disease. The only true way to do that is through money, so all the donations we get tonight will go to toward cancer research and finding a cure.”
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