Relay for Life tries day run

This year's Relay for Life started much earlier than previous relay fundraisers.

Instead of being held from sunset to sunrise, representing the stages a cancer patient goes through after initial diagnosis, Saturday's event started with a cancer survivor brunch at 9 a.m. and wrapped up by midnight.

The change to a daytime event is a test run, said Kaci Hubbard of the American Cancer Society.

"Cape needed something new, and just because it's during the day this year doesn't mean it will be held during the day next year," she said.

The location was changed from Capaha Park to Arena Park because ArtsCape was already scheduled to be held in Capaha Park.

The change suited Dolores Bohnsack, event co-chairwoman and a nine-year cancer survivor who has been participating in Relay for Life for eight years. "It's wonderful," she said. "The electricity and the space are the best, and the parking is wonderful."

Funds were raised before the event, but the 42 teams set up across from the Arena Building sold everything from ice cream to jewelry to Cardinals tickets, working toward a goal of $150,000. Last year, the Relay for Life raised $137,000.

In addition to the new location and new hours, this year's Relay for Life had an open invitation to anyone between 30 and 65 years old who had never been diagnosed with cancer to participate in the Cancer Prevention Study-3. Enrollment was a two-phase process open from noon to 4 p.m. Participants took about 30 minutes to read and sign a consent form, complete a survey, provide a waist measurement and give a small blood sample. The second phase is a detailed survey to be filled out at home. Periodic follow-up surveys of a long-term commitment will be mailed out, which is why eligibility starts at age 30.

"Older people are more established, and since younger people move around a lot more, the money spent on trying to track them down would be wasted," said Danielle Liley, who oversaw participation in the study.

The study, which requires 500,000 adults nationwide, will recruit participants at select Relay for Life events until 2011.

"I think Cape was chosen because it is a hub for smaller communities representing diverse populations," Hubbard said. "There's a chance that surveys may be available in Missouri or a few hours away, but not here in Cape again."

Hubbard and Liley said they wished they were older so they could be part of the study. "This is the kind of research that could save millions of lives," Hubbard said.

Studies begun in the 1950s played a major role in understanding cancer prevention and risk, confirming the links between cigarette smoking and lung cancer, showing obesity increases the risk of several cancers and linking aspirin use to a lower death rate from colon cancer.

Gina Hagerty, 38, of Cape Girardeau said she was excited about taking part in the survey. "Anything I can do I'm glad to do,'" she said.

Ester Wheeler of Dexter, Mo., could not participate in the study, but her husband did. "It's worth it and neat to be part of history," she said.

Wheeler is a "Hero of Hope" whose role is to empower people to fight cancer. She recently spoke on tobacco issues at Jefferson City during American Cancer Society lobby day.

Wheeler began smoking at age 11. "If I can stop one kid from smoking, I've done my job," she said.

As a two-time oral cancer survivor, she knows what cancer can do.

"I am speaking to you with less than half of my tongue," she said.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133

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