Weather can't dampen Relay spirit
Gallup’s Relay For Life strengthens cancer fight

Marcella Alderete and fellow cancer survivors are recognized in the opening ceremonies for the 2009 Relay for Life at the Gallup Sports Complex on Friday. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Adron Gardner

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff writer

GALLUP — Gallup’s 10th annual Relay For Life was a bit smaller — and soggier — than previous years’ events, but hundreds still showed up to demonstrate their support for the fight against cancer.

The annual overnight event, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, ran from Friday evening to Saturday morning at the Gallup Sports Complex. And for a while, it looked like Friday afternoon’s picture perfect weather would last throughout the event.

“It is the best weather we’ve ever had for Relay,” said Melinda Russell, who was preparing a batch of root beer floats to sell to the evening Relay crowd. Unfortunately, Russell, co-captain of the Merry Marching Methodists team, spoke too soon. By 10 p.m., a sudden wind and rain storm whipped across the Relay grounds, sending participants fleeing for shelter. The event got back on track after the brief storm, but overnight participants later got drenched in a 2 a.m. downpour and again during a 7 a.m. storm.

Most Relay participants, however, had greater concerns than Gallup’s fickle weather. If participants weren’t cancer survivors themselves, many were at the event because of a loved one’s cancer.

Russell and her fellow co-captain, Sally Carter, both have lost parents to the disease. Russell’s father died of lung cancer in 2001, and her mother was diagnosed with two forms of lymphoma before passing away last December. Carter’s mother died of lymphoma in 2001.

“We have that in common — losing our moms to cancer,” Carter said. “We do this to honor their memory.”

This was Betty Holyan’s second year attending Gallup’s Relay. The Coyote Canyon resident said she has purchased luminarias both years as a way to honor the memory of her mother, Anna Holyan, who died from carcinoma two years ago.

Holyan said she tries to support Relay fundraisers throughout the year as a way to help in the fight against cancer. “I know it can’t be totally eradicated,” she said, “but we can try.”

Lt. Nodee Lujan and Firefighter James Gleason, both members of the Gallup Fire Department’s Bad Axes team, said they were participating to honor the memory of three Gallup firefighters who lost their battles with cancer: Andy Carabajal, Louie Chavez, and Floyd Reyes.

“We’re kind of doing it for them,” Lujan said, explaining it was the first year local firefighters had formed a team. “This will be a tradition,” he added.

Both Lujan and Gleason said they have attended other Relays in the past. Through that experience, Gleason said, he has recognized the common thread cancer’s impact has on the lives of participants.

The personal impact of cancer inspired four auditors with the Navajo Nation Minerals Audit Program to form their team, Wicked. The team, headed up by co-captains Lorraine Shorty and Rowena Cheromiah, was selling Navajo tacos and fry bread on Friday evening.

I think we we’re all affected by cancer,” said Shorty of her fellow group members’ participation.

Cheromiah, who added she enjoys the family feeling and camaraderie of Relay For Life celebrations, said, “You have a better appreciation for what people go through.”

Anita Doetsch and Cecily Langendorf, teachers at Washington Elementary School, explained they joined their school’s team, the Hot Tamales, to show support for their co-worker, Kathleen McKenzie, a first-grade teacher who was diagnosed with breast cancer nine months ago.

“She’s very dear to us,” Langendorf said, “and we wanted to support her.”

Doetsch said it was also important to support other local educators like Carol Sarath and Bev Crowe who are cancer survivors and who have been involved in Relay For Life.

Crowe was given a “Heroes of Hope” award this year by the American Cancer Society for her volunteer work with cancer survivors. According to Relay organizers, this is the first year of the awards, and Crowe is the only winner from New Mexico.

As for this year’s Gallup Relay, event chair Linda Shelton said more than $66,500 has been raised thus far, and the local organization has until the end of August to raise the final total. “I’m still determined we’re going to make it to $80,000,” she said.

Shelton’s team, the Ups and Downs, raised $16,819, taking first place for the second year in a row. Western Refining came in second with $12,946, and the Gallup Feds raised $7,132. Winners in Friday’s team parade include Gallup Feds, first place; Barbara’s Crusaders, second; Western Refining, third; and the Gallup Fire Department’s Bad Axes, honorable mention.

Valerie New is a staff partner who helps organize Relay For Life events around the state. In addition to her work with the American Cancer Society, New said she has personal experience with cancer through family members.

New said she believes Relay For Life celebrations help newly diagnosed cancer patients by giving them hope, and helps people who have lost loved ones to cancer to know they are not alone. Participation in Relay For Life encourages people to take better care of themselves, she added, such as stopping smoking, losing weight, and getting medical screenings.

“It’s a really great way to strengthen a community,” she said, “and bring them together for a great cause.”