CANCER ORDEAL SPARKS INVOLVEMENT IN ANNUAL WALK

When Sybil Whitworth went for a mammogram at her husband's urging in 1997, the Scott City, Mo., resident didn't know it would save her life.

Whitworth had a cancerous lump in her breast and underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

"It was by the grace of God and early detection that I'm here today," said Whitworth, 51.

But one of the greatest things that came out of her ordeal, she said, was her involvement with the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, set for Friday and Saturday in Jackson, Mo., and Aug. 10 and 11 in Cape Girardeau.

The Relay for Life is an overnight event where walkers form teams of 10 to 15 people and raise donations for the Cancer Society. One team member will walk continuously from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The event symbolizes the battle and hope of cancer patients, said Amy Evans, income development specialist with the American Cancer Society.

"When you start -- when the patient first develops cancer -- the sun is out, but then during the long, dark hours of the night -- treatment of the cancer -- things get hard," Evans said. "But then comes the morning -- the recovery -- and the bright light of the sun."

Niece died from cancer

Whitworth had gotten involved with the relay after her niece, Rebekah, died from squamous cell carcinoma in September. Whitworth said the throat cancer spread from Rebekah's tongue to her neck, her lungs and eventually her bones. This year, Whitworth and her family will walk, not only for herself, but for Rebekah's memory. Their team is called "Rebekah's Renegades."

Whitworth and her family walked last year, and she's looking forward to the survivors' lap. Cancer survivors walk the opening lap of the relay.

Evans said, Whitworth "really understands the spirit of doing the relay. She's a survivor herself, and also understands what it means to walk for the memory of another person because of her niece."

The Relay for Life is more than a fund-raiser, although last year it raised $42,000 in Cape and $15,000 in Jackson for cancer research and programs.

"It's truly an activity, and it celebrates survivorship," Evans said.

The relay will also have entertainment and a luminaria service at 9:30 p.m. at the Jackson relay and 10 p.m. at the Cape relay. The service, where people can buy candles and place them around the track in memory of someone battling cancer, can be healing for friends and family members, Evans said.

Whitworth has been in remission for 4 1/2 years. After five years, doctors will consider her cured -- even though there is always a possibility of relapse.

There is no magic number, she said, "but after five years, the odds are so much better."

Whitworth hopes to have more community involvement this year. "Whenever you turn on the TV and see someone in the Heartland who was diagnosed with leukemia and is now in remission because of some new drug," she said, "that's our relay dollars at work."

Currently, 40 percent of the proceeds from the relays will go to the national level for research, while the other 60 percent will stay in the area for services and programs.

WANT TO TO?

WHAT: American Cancer Society Relay for Life

WHEN: Aug. 3-4 from 7 p.m.-7 a.m. at the Jackson City Park; Aug. 10-11 from 7 p.m.-7 a.m. at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau; luminaria (candle) services at 9:30 p.m. in Jackson and 10 p.m. in Cape.

INFORMATION: Call Amy Evans at 334-9197