The Relay For Life of Shawano-Menominee kicked off its 2014 fight against cancer Wednesday, but whether the fight will continue locally depends on more participation.
Relay For Life is an international fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. According to Vicky Szucs, one of the local coordinators, the 2013 event in Shawano raised about $40,000.
The problem is not participation; it is a lack of people willing to help plan the annual event.
“It has been very stressful the last couple of years. Relay will not continue if people do not … join the committee,” said Angie Krueger, a former committee member. “The meetings have been cut way down; they don’t even start until a couple of months before. It takes a lot of planning to get it going, and there are two girls who really did it this year.”
Many of the participants in the relay are survivors of cancer. Ann Van Grinsven is one of them, and 2014 will be her seventh event in Shawano.
Peggy Bucholz is another survivor; this year will be her second Relay For Life here.
“They made me speak last year,” Bucholz said. “Just kind of threw me into the fire.”
Others know of people who are dealing with cancer or have a family member who fought against the disease. Janice Marquardt, a captain for one of the local teams, participates because one of her daughters developed cancer 12 years ago.
Muffy Culhane has been a supporter of Relay For Life since 1997. Her daughter passed away from leukemia in 2002.
“I know she’s with us in spirit,” Culhane said. “I’m happy to do this every year.”
While there is not an ACS facility in Shawano or Menominee counties, more than $12.4 million came to Wisconsin through the ACS to combat cancer, said Heather Van Vonderen, a senior Relay For Life manager for northeast Wisconsin who has participated in the program for 15 years. Much of the funding helps to discover early detection programs and new ways to combat cancer.
“You’re part of this amazing movement to stop cancer,” Van Vonderen told the kick-off participants Wednesday. “There are 5,000 other relays across the nation, and there are 20 other countries that work with us. There were 3 million participants (worldwide) last year.”
Money also goes into prevention efforts, such as visiting schools to teach students about proper health and staying clear of tobacco products. Van Vonderen said there is also a phone line for smokers trying to kick the habit.
“We’re really working to help people stay well,” she said.
The 2014 relay will be March 22 at Shawano Community High School. The keynote speaker for the opening ceremony will be Bill Jartz, a WBAY news anchorman who hails from Clintonville.
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