Celebrate, remember and fight back at Relay for Life

Cancer has touched the life of Deb Courtis four times.

Her daughter, Dulcy, was diagnosed with leukemia when she was 20 years old. After being in and out of the hospital for many months, Dulcy beat the disease and in June will celebrate 18 years of being cancer-free.

Then Deb's father, Bill Bonds, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2001. She brought him from Prescott to Yuma and took care of him until he lost his battle after 11 months. He was 74.

Her husband, John, was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2004 just after his 50th birthday. The family had gathered to celebrate the occasion and he wasn't feeling well.

The day after the kids left, he went to the emergency room and learned he had kidney cancer. After two surgeries, he has one kidney but is cancer-free.

Then, in 2006, John's 59-year-old sister, Judy Jones, died of stomach cancer.

That's why the Courtises feel so strongly about participating in Relay for Life, a community gathering where everyone participates in the fight against cancer. John and Deb, both Yuma Sun employees, are co-chairs of the event taking place April 17 at Desert Sun Stadium, a new venue for the annual fundraiser benefiting the American Cancer Society.

Relay for Life allows the Courtises to "celebrate, remember and fight back," the event's motto.

"This is personal and it's emotional," John said. "It's also a big party. It's a fun fundraiser but a serious fun fundraiser."

Teams of people will camp overnight at the stadium and take turns walking the track at all times from 6 p.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday. There will be an area for watching movies and things for kids to do all night.

Every team will hold its own fundraiser, and food will be available. The public is invited to come and check out the fundraisers and activities.

"Why all night?" Kirsten French, community relations manager for the Great West Division of the American Cancer Society, said the expression refers to the fact that "cancer never sleeps so on this night, neither will we."

"Also, it mirrors the diagnosis and treatment (of cancer)," French added. "In the beginning, you have cancer and it's like the evening. You go through the treatment, and it's hard, dark, cold and you want to quit, but the night fades, the sun comes up and it's a new day. There's nothing like watching the sun come up, and it's a brand-new day."

"And with that comes new hope," John Courtis said.

French has also been touched by cancer. Her husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2005. She remembers getting the call.

"When you hear those words, 'He has cancer,' it's like getting jolted with 1,000 watts of electricity."

Relay is also a chance to honor survivors. "When you survive, life takes on a whole new meaning. I always say every day above ground is a good one," John said.

American Cancer Society is the "official sponsor of birthdays," French said. "Surviving cancer changes your outlook and you view birthdays totally different. People normally think, 'Oh no! I'm going to be 50.' Now it's, 'Yeah! I'm going to be 50!'"

Last year Yuma came in No. 1 in the number of participating survivors - 378 - for their competing district, which covers half of Arizona and all of New Mexico.

Organizers are looking for more survivors to participate this year. Eighty-eight teams totaling 1,378 people attended the 2009 event. This year, 81 teams have already signed up.

Lining the track will be luminarias honoring survivors, someone battling cancer or in the memory of someone who lost the battle. The words "hope" and "cure" will be spelled with luminarias on each side of the bleachers.

Teams decorate and sell the luminarias. Last year, the 88 teams sold 3,000.

"It's really quite a sight when it's dark. I love them," Deb said.

John agreed that the "real celebration is seeing the survivors. For the time being, they have beat the demon."

After the opening ceremony, survivors wearing purple shirts with the word "survivor" walk the first lap.

"It's a mass of purple walking the track. It's pretty incredible," John noted.

Mara Knaub can be reached at mknaub@yumasun.com or 539-6856.

TO JOIN

To join a team, start a team, donate to a team or sign up as a survivor, call team development chairwoman Pam Borland at 210-9882 or go to www.relayforlife.org/yumaaz.

To receive T-shirts, participants must sign up before Wednesday, March 17, but they can register until the day of the Relay for Life on April 17. Teams must consist of five to 26 members and be willing to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Teams come up with their own fundraisers such as carwashes, bake sales, auctions, yard sales, and making and selling jewelry. Some teams write letters to friends and family telling them what they are doing and asking for donations.

Also, organizers are still trying to get sponsors. Their names will appear on banners, thank-you ads and T-shirt logos. To sponsor the event, call Lori Houck at 276-1776.

For information on any type of cancer, visit the ACS Cancer Resource Center inside the Yuma Cancer Center at 1501 W. 24th St., Suite C, or visit www.cancer.org or call toll-free 1-800-ACS.2345.