Group Keeps Fight Against Cancer All in the Family

Ovarian cancer, skin cancer and prostate cancer are just some of the cancers that have taken the lives of family members in one Attleboro family. The willingness to support family members who are battling or have lost their battle to the disease that has stricken thousands of families in the Greater Attleboro area is clear for the Hathaway family. 

That strong bond of support in the Hathaway family kicks into high gear in the months leading up to the annual American Cancer Society's Relay for Life of Greater Attleboro. This year will be the eighth year that the team "All in the Family" participates in the Relay for Life, which is being held June 10 at North Attelboro High School. 

Terry Hathaway is credited with first starting the team and its interest in the Relay for Life, but cousin Joseph Haynes is the driving force behind the reason why they continue each year, according to Laura Hathaway, who participates in support of her her sister, who was being aggressively treated for soft cell sarcoma, and in memory of her father, who died from prostate cancer.

"It makes me cry every time I think of him," Hathaway said of Haynes, wiping the tears from her face. "This to him is a way to give back to this awful disease that his mother died from."

Haynes was 5 when his mother died from ovarian cancer. Since then Joseph, who is turning 15 soon, has come to Attleboro from Minnesota each year to participate in the Relay for Life.

"Relay is a wonderful experience. It gives people well being, knowing that the actions that they are taking further combat a terrible disease," he said. "I personally choose to participate in the relay because my mother's life was taken by this horrible disease and I believe that my actions can help save someone else's loved one's life."

"I come back to this event every year in order to donate more money so that one day people can live their lives without ever losing a loved one to cancer," he added. "Cancer is a disease that has taken too many lives in the past years and we need to fight against it."

The goal is the same each year for Angie Ferreira, who has a form of skin cancer, but participates for her many family members who have died and currently trying to beat the ugly disease. 

"It is a feeling of power to say we will continue to raise money until this dang disease is gone," she said. "This has made us a stronger family."

"And we are doing something we all feel matters," Hathaway said of the team. 

For the last few months the family has been busy raising funds to reach Gold, a goal of $10,000. The team has surpassed its goal once before, when it raised $13,000, and it hopes to do so again. In total, since they first started, the team has raised more than $50,000 for the American Cancer Society by participating in the Relay for Life. 

As of April 18, All in the Family had raised a little more than $2,000 through personal donations and their fund-raising efforts, which included a recent vendor fair at Faith Alliance Church in Attleboro. With nearly $8,000 still to collect to reach their goal this year, the family is busy organizing additional fund-raising events including a yard sale on Saturday, May 7, at 14 Richardson Ave. in Norton (rain date of Saturday, May 14) and bowling tournament called "Strike Out Cancer" on May 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at North Bowl Lanes in North Attleboro.

"Most of the money stays local," Hathaway said.

"And it goes to helping support caregivers and provides support for those battling the disease," Ferreira said. 

While the goal of the team is to raise funds for the American Cancer Society, it also has brought the family together to help them cope with the many family members who have died from and are fighting the disease and to celebrate those who are survivors. 

"When Aunt Linda was diagnosed, we had a team meeting to see what we can do to support her," Ferreira added. "We made travel baskets for her to go to take with her for her chemo treatment.

"It is so much more than raising money – this is our way of fighting back."

The "All in the Family" team includes: Emily Haynes (16), Miah Pantanella (10), Presley Pantanella (15), Jeffrey Haynes (13), Alex Reilly (15) Matthew Haynes (7),Tommy Hathaway (8), Jessica Ferreira (13), Priscilla Cook (87), Alex Casey (13), Bette Hathaway, Evan Casey (7), Len Hathaway.