Cancer Survivors Step Off for the First Lap of the Greater Attleboro Relay for Life

The North Attleboro High School track was the setting for determination, fight and celebrating survivors. A total of 74 teams comprised of approximately 763 participants came to together for the Greater Attleboro Relay for Life, now in its 13th year. The Relay benefits cancer research. By 7 p.m. the official tally of raised money was $183,000 with more yet to come.

 Also at that time there were approximately 3, 500 participants around or on the track. More people were expected to join in the unified goal of raising money for research towards a cancer cure, better treatments for cancer, earlier diagnosis of cancers and also celebrate survivors who have beat cancer.

With recent advances in cancer treatments many lucky patients have been able to survive longer, but Friday night’s participants are not satisfied. Cancer victims, they say, should be able to celebrate more birthdays.

Attleboro teacher, Janet Peabody walking for the ADK Epsilom sorority team said, “I think everyone deserves another birthday and if we can raise money by walking tonight, and we can make that happen for them, then all of our efforts have been worthwhile.”

An incredibly touching team participating in the Relay for Life, “Laugh Play, Chase Cancer Away” is represented by a large group of second graders and their teachers from North Attleboro’s Martin School. Two second graders and their parents have sadly learned the hardest way possible, what cancer means.

Team member AJ Brown is eight years old and is a six-year survivor of brain cancer. Although he remembers little of his treatments, he said he was there Friday night to “crush cancer!”

AJ’s classmate, seven-year-old Brandon “Bob” DePaolo describes his cancer as “a bump.” He said he would like to put a football in cancer’s face.

Brandon’s Mom, Kerri Knight described Brandons’ cancer as neuroblastoma, which was diagnosed when he was four. “He had the works, a bone marrow transplant, a 12-hour surgery and lots more. But a routine MRI performed in January showed the cancer is back. He is undergoing treatment now."

Knight continued to say how speechless she was when she saw all Brandon’s classmates present to support him in his new struggle with cancer.

The young boys' team consisting of eight adults and at least 25 classmates raised $5,000 this year making their five-year total $60,000.

For 12 years, members of "Team Margie" have walked in memory of Margie Gill who passed away 24 years ago of kidney cancer. The youngest members of the team, family friends Abigail and Alexander Whittingham agreed, “We are here to help raise money for a cure. We want more people with cancer to live longer.”

Amidst the delicious smells of hamburgers and hot dogs on the grills and the sounds of old friends meeting up together again, teams repeated over and over that they were spending the night on the track because they knew someone who had cancer, some who survived and some who did not. Everyone has been touched by cancer.

Pam Murphy of "Pearl’s Girls Friendship Sorority" commented, “We are working towards the cure. What we do today, may save someone’s tomorrow.”

"Pearl’s Girls Friendship Sorority" raised $4,600 with 11 members walking in their third Relay. Cydney Bowen said, “We are walking for our sisters some who are survivors, others presently patients and all of those beyond our sorority who have lost their battles with cancer.”

Cindy Brundrett of Plainville and member of the 30-member "Flush for a Cure Team" said, “This is our first year and we have raised $2,500, which is pretty awesome.” Her being a 13-year Hodgekins survivor is pretty awesome, too!

Lorraine Romaniuk, of Attleboro also was walking for the local sorority ADK said, “My sister died of cancer 10 years ago, three years after her diagnosis. I often wonder with the treatments and cancer awareness of today could she have survived longer?”

Retired Attleboro teacher and also ADK sorority walker Yvonne Simkins is walking as a 14-year survivor of parartid gland cancer and also in memory of her husband Richard Simkins an Attleboro fire fighter who died of colon cancer at only 49 years of age. 

Retired Attleboro teacher, Barbara Hanson, team captain of the ADK sorority team said “We’ve participated in 9 relays and in this one we raised $3,000.”

Hanson continued, “There are people that sit and do nothing and there are those of us, like us who want to make a difference. That’s why we’re here.”