North County Relay for Life Engenders Hope for Cancer Cure
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Cancer survivors and their families take the first lap around the track at Noel Field Athletic Complex for the annual Northern Berkshire Relay for Life. Left, Christine Girard marks three months cancer free. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Hundreds of area residents began their annual march round and round the walking track at the Noel Field Athletic Complex on Friday night to raise money for cancer research and patient support.
Nearly 900 participants in Northern Berkshire Relay for Life this year alone have raised more than $100,000 for the American Cancer Society.
"We have gathered as a community determined that those who are facing cancer will be supported, that those who lost their battle will not be forgotten and that together we will continue to fight back so that one day no one in our community will hear those dreaded words, 'you've got cancer,'" said Laura Baran, community executive with the Cancer Society and program manager for the local Relay.
Her voice breaking with emotion, Baran said she was "humbled by all of you and a community that blows me away year after year by their dedication to a cause that means so much to me."
It was a tight-knit community that had also rallied around Christine Girard, who proudly displayed her survivor "certificate" of being cancer free for three months.
"I am a newborn ... 3 months!" she said, taking the stage as the evening's survivor speaker. Many people had come up to her saying she had inspired them but Girard said it was the opposite. "It's not me, it's you — you're inspiring. ... You came together to get me through this."
Everyone there had a story about their cancer, she said, but the one they had in common was it wasn't expected.
"It all of a sudden comes knocking on your door, kinda like your AARP card that you keep wanting to send back because you're not that old. ... but you can't send it back."
And while they couldn't send it back they could make the choice to fight it, to live, she said.
"We all did what we had to do because we want to live, right? Are we going to let this thing own us? Nooo, it never owns us," she declared. "Do not claim it. Do not let it own you. Get through it."
Girard joined Baran and co-Chairwomen Judy Roy and Michelle Jensen in believing that someday, a cure could be found.
Dr. Paul Rosenthal of Berkshire Hematology Oncology said that day may not be far off. "Ultimately, we will see the day when no one suffers from the scourge of cancer."
 Dr. Paul Rosenthal spoke of breakthroughs in cancer research and the new $30 million cancer center being built in Pittsfield — not Boston. |
He recalled that at last year's Relay, his frustration at the obstacles put in the way of getting first-class cancer treatments for his patients by Medicare and insurers had led him to title his talk "I Want a New Job."
His hopes have been by raised last August's announcement of a $30 million cancer center being built on the campus of Hillcrest Hospital in Pittsfield and recent breakthroughs in mapping DNA mutations in cancer cells, which is opening the door to "personalized treatments."
"Each individual's tumor will be analyzed for DNA mutations; the treatment will be dictated by the mutations found," said Rosenthal. "This is just the tip of the iceberg."
The cancer center is expected to attract "a critical mass of specialist under one roof" and aid in the recruitment of oncologists, including Williamstown native Dr. Trevor Bayliss, who is joining the practice this summer. Rosenthal said he couldn't name names yet but Berkshire Health Systems will be affiliating with a cancer center that has a "world-class reputation" in the type of tailored cancer treatments of which he had spoken.
"It's an exciting time to be in this field and in Berkshire County," said Rosenthal. "Instead of I want a new job, I've found a new job."
Tags: cancer, cancer support, fundraiser, relay for life,
