April 25, 2001

Inspired work: Volunteers aid Relay

Cancer survivors drum up team support for Relay for Life

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
       Inspired to be inspirational, Becky Norton is a one-woman team-making machine.
      A cancer survivor for four years, Norton has been on a blitz for the past two months, single-handedly creating 32 teams for the upcoming American Cancer Society Relay for Life, scheduled for June 2 and 3 at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center.
      Norton mined her contacts district wide as a long-term employee of the Traverse City Area Public Schools to generate the teams, which range from groups of students or teachers to a combination of teachers, parents and students. In fact, she is just a school or two away from a complete sweep and Central High School is fielding six teams and West High School three.
      Compared to last year's total of 30 teams, Norton's efforts alone have topped that number. The expected 85-plus teams will set a record in the event's sixth year.
      "I really feel I have a purpose as a cancer survivor," said Norton, who is the district's printing department coordinator. "A lot of people want to do something but don't know how to do it, the Relay is one way to help."
      Her motivation came at last year's Relay, which she attended as a volunteer and ended up staying for 48 hours straight, from set-up to breakdown. She determined then to find at least 30 additional teams for next year's event.
      Her inspiration came from Sherry Stremlow, a friend who died from cancer last year.
      "I was diagnosed just after a huge fund-raiser for Sherry Stremlow; I was really driven for that fund-raiser, Sherry was my inspiration." Norton recalled. "Then Sherry was my inspiration and support during the next few months. They were very, very hard times but Sherry got me through it - even though she was sick herself she was always there for me."
      Volunteering for four years and co-chair of this year's Relay, Teri Brown also has found inspiration from her own cancer diagnosis. She began volunteering as a way to honor her dad, who died from cancer in 1993. Each year since then she has become more and more involved.
      "Two years ago I was diagnosed and since then it has kind of revved up my engine," Brown said. "It is really rewarding to participate and see survivors and know that the work we are doing is working."
      Survivors like Brown and Norton can point to how funds raised by events such as the Relay for Life have made a difference: last year, for the first time, mortality rates for cancer dropped.
      Registered nurse Becky Asper, an oncology nurse at Munson Medical Center, sees firsthand the benefits of the dollars that come in from the Relay for Life events. In her work with cancer patients and their families for the past 18 years, Asper has been part of the Munson team at the Relay every year.
      "We participate because we have seen the money that the American Cancer Society raises go to research that has helped keep our patients alive," she said. "We've seen improvements and we've met some of the docs who have got the research money."
      "I cry when I see the kids I've taken care of who have been cured walking around the track."
      Besides research, other funds raised by the Relay for Life go to education for patients and families and nursing research and education.
      The American Cancer Society is holding a fundraising garage sale Saturday, April 28, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Civic Center. The proceeds from the sale will go to the Relay for Life. For more information on the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, contact the organization's Traverse City office at 947-0860 or 800-723-0370 or online at www.cancer.org.