Breaking News
Local News

Walk for a cure — Relay For Life of Blair County holds 24-hour community event

By Holly Claycomb 5 min read

While there is still a long way to go to find a cure for cancer, organizers and participants at the 2023 Relay For Life of Blair County said they're determined to help in the fight.

This year, the countywide event -- under the theme Cooking for a Cure -- surpassed its goal, going over the $100,000 mark. That's more than $30,000 over the $70,000 goal -- and they're not done yet.

To reach that milestone, teams started last September raising funds through designer purse bingos, hoagie sales, lottery boards and candy sales, to name a few.

Teams will continue raising money through the end of August before the slates are wiped clean, the totals are announced and teams gear up for next year, said Sharon O'Keiff-Fusco, senior development manager with the American Cancer Society.

Relay isn't just a 24-hour event, it's a "wrap-around fundraiser," O'Keiff-Fusco said Friday during the gathering at Mansion Park.

Relay, which started Friday at 11 a.m. and wraps up at 11 a.m. Saturday, is "just the icing," said Dianna Haydt, associate director of development with the American Cancer Society. "It's a party to celebrate all their hard work" in raising money for the organization.

The funds raised go toward research, education, advocacy and health equity -- for everything from research into cancer treatments and how COVID-19 affects cancer patients and survivors, to educational materials and support, and making sure all people have the opportunity to prevent, find, treat and survive cancer.

Those taking part in Relay events said cancer affects everyone. Even if they've not had the disease themselves, they know people who are fighting, have survived or who have lost the fight.

Connie McKnight and her husband, James, have both survived cancer.

"I've been cancer-free for 11 years," Connie said. James, she said, survived colon cancer, having been diagnosed when he was 42.

McKnight was manning the information table just inside the Mansion Park gates. There, she greeted visitors, walkers and fellow team members, handing out schedules and sharing in the camaraderie the event promotes.

"I love it," she said.

Joining McKnight was Alexis Finnegan, 16, an Altoona Area High School student.

Finnegan has been attending Relay for about 10 years, coming with McKnight and other family members.

"I've always tried to include my kids, now my grandkids," McKnight said.

It's important to get the younger generation involved, she said, as the Blair County Relay has been a staple in the community for 29 years and some older members are looking to cut back or retire.

"We really need to get more young ones involved," she said.

Finnegan said she's looking into ways to get classmates involved, perhaps as a National Honor Society project, noting members need 25 hours of community service.

Finnegan said she enjoys volunteering for various events, so "I have enough hours, but others might not. This would be a good project."

Because she's been so involved with Relay, Finnegan is aware that "we actually need younger people to keep it going."

It's a lot of fun, the duo said.

"I have met so many wonderful people by being involved in Relay," McKnight said.

Tom Ardrey attends the Relay For Life of Blair County each year, walking the track as a tribute to his late wife, Darcy, who died nine years ago from bone cancer.

"I come in to do a mile," said the father, grandfather and great-grandfather, adding that on Friday, he was spending time with his great-grandson Kolby Defibaugh, 4, lamenting the young boy never had the chance to know his great-grandmother.

Ardrey also attends the luminaria ceremony, where paper lanterns, decorated with the names of loved ones, are lit in honor and in memory of a life touched by cancer.

Despite the advancements in medicine that help more people survive cancer, "we still got a long way to go," he said.

Teams compete

According to the Relay for Life website, the Alpha team was the top fundraiser this year, bringing in $16,528, as of Friday.

"We've been doing this for 18 years," Kris Young said, thanks to contributions from workers at the plant and Alpha's parent company, Element Solutions Inc., which has a charitable foundation.

"Employees donate in different ways," she said, explaining some walk, some raise money and others donate.

Dawn Drexler, who is listed on the leaderboard as having raised $2,902, is also a member of the ARC Federal Credit Union team that raised $6,100 this year, and will continue to raise funds through the summer.

She volunteers to help set up and tear down for special events, such as the purse bingo. Taking part that way also directs more money to her team. Big team events, like bingo, allow teams to raise money by selling tickets and other items, she said.

They all have the same goal, to raise money for the American Cancer Society, but with more than two dozen teams, there is also some friendly competition, group members said.

A meeting in September to kickoff the next year's campaign will include highlights of the year, goals for the upcoming year and tips on what worked and what didn't to raise money, Drexler said.

More teams are always welcome and those who want to take part but don't have a team can join already established groups.

That's what happened with McKnight.

"The Alpha group adopted me," she said with a grin.

Relay For Life has events to keep people going through the day and night, including dress up laps such as Hawaiian, Mad Hatter and '50s themes, children's activities, scavenger hunts, line dancing, bocce and cornhole.

Breakfast is served and closing ceremonies and a final lap wrap up the festivities.

Teams and individuals who would like to take part in next year's event are invited to attend the kickoff in September. For more information, email sharon.okeiff-fusco@cancer.org.

Starting at /week.