Hundreds Walk to Remember, Honor Loved Ones Affected by Cancer

Purple, pink, green, red and blue. No matter the color, they all stood for two things: Hope and support.

Hundreds of area residents poured into Tiger Stadium to remember or honor loved ones affected by cancer at the . The relay is the main draw, and it’s the culmination and celebration of the time and effort spent in fundraising for cancer research.

Each team wore different colors to support their loved ones, and they smiled as they rounded the track on lap who-knows-how-many-but-it-doesn't-matter-because-we're-here-for-a-good-cause. Nearly $45,000 has been raised so far, said chairman Rob Felber.

The ceremony kicked off with a survivor lap, where those who kicked the disease walked a celebratory lap. As they lined up on the track, the announcer asked the people who had been cancer-free for one year or less to line up first. The others went in order behind them.

"First-year members," the announcer said. "Turn around and look at the people behind you. They are your future."

Tears rolled down their faces as they took their victory lap and supporters cheered them on the whole way.

Seven-year survivor Betsy Male, of Northfield, came to walk with her granddaughter. Male was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 and she's been attending since 2005. She lost her mother to endometrial cancer a year ago.

"It's important for me because I'm a survivor to make people aware, honor my mother's memory. I've lost several friends and I know a lot of survivors," Male said. "I'm just grateful to be a survivor. Every year I'm just happy to be here."

Throughout the night, participants continued walking laps while children played in the football field. Others competed in coloring contests or the Miss Relay Pageant, which was actually men and boys dressed as girls and women.

Toward the end of the night, participants lit luminaries that circled the track with the names of cancer survivors and victims.

Keep checking back with Twinsburg Patch all next week to see videos from the participants and more photos.