TO THE EDITOR:
We had a great Relay for Life (RFL) event this year [at the Page Valley Fairgrounds on Saturday]. The RFL had a 10-person Executive Lesdership Team (ELT) that put the entire event together. It wasn’t easy. We had plenty of squabbles and debates on how to make it a success.
In the end, we raised more than $21,333 through the event and prior donations. More is still coming in. We honored people fighting cancer, people who have survived it, caregivers, and remembered those who died as a result of cancer.
Glenna Painter and Cheryl Fitry were co-chairs of the ELT. Robin McMillen did an amazing job of bringing in vendors, sponsors and donors. Another big challenge was the weather. Because of the rainy forecast, we had to move it all indoors, and get set up both outside and inside, on Friday in heavy rains.
My team, Babs Karaoke Angels, was led by Kimberly Wright. Our team served to honor the memory of our good friend Barbara Black, who passed away earlier this year. We raised close to $4,000 when all donations are credited by the Relay for Life headquarters in Atlanta. Our original goal was $1,000. If you would care to help us reach $4,000 — you can donate through the link below.
https://secure.acsevents.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=relay_donate_now
On our team, we also had Sheila Lester, who brought many ideas to the table, and Ronnie the “cookieman”, who put together a wonderful game area for the children, ran the ticket table, and our raffles. We also had popcorn, cotton candy, a clown, and much more. We had high school students volunteer to help, as well as several friends and family members who helped us with set up or worked the relay.
The event food vendors included Women of the Luray Moose, Il Vesuvio Italian Restaurant, and a food truck from Dan’s Steakhouse. We had many other vendors come for the day, as well as musicians, face painting, an inflatable bounce area for the children, and a petting zoo. It was a great family-friendly event that was in the best tradition of Relay for Life.
Please see the American Cancer Society website below for more information on the Relay for Life event in Page County.
https://secure.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY24SER?pg=entry&fr_id=109195
Sincerely,
Tom Kelley ~ Luray, Va.
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I’m a cancer survivor. From 2011.
I’m glad you survived. We can all be glad that we have a government that invests our tax dollars in research and treatments for the many forms of cancer. America IS a great country. https://www.cancer.gov/research
George Damson. That’s right. The DaVinci Surgical System used on me was developed by the US Defense Department for use in the forward battlefield. In my case, the nerves were saved and after about 30 days out, it’s been like nothing happened since.
“The uses of robotics in surgery were hypothesized as far back as 1967, but it took nearly 30 years and the nation’s largest agency, the Department of Defense, in conjunction with innovative startups and established research agencies to complete the first fully functional multipurpose surgical robot. Currently, the most prominently available multipurpose robotic surgery system with US Food and Drug Administration approval is Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s da Vinci Surgical System, which is found in operating rooms across the globe. Although now ubiquitous for minimally invasive surgery, early surgical robot prototypes were specialty focused. Originally, multipurpose robotic systems were intended for long-distance trauma surgery in battlefield settings. While there were impressive feats of telesurgery, the marketable focus has veered from this goal. Initially developed through SRI International and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, surgical robotics reached private industry through two major competitors, who later merged.”
I’m glad you survived. We can all be glad that our government invests our tax dollars in research and treatments for the many forms of cancer. America IS a great country. https://www.cancer.gov/research
Every male of some age should get a PSA test done. Order online. Don’t need a doctor’s order. See the result online. If you have any number above zero, then you have prostate cancer. Salivary glands can produce PSA however. But either way, see a doctor.
My story is this. I worked at a place in an ear nose and throat clinic for ten years. They were on employees to have all the tests done. I watched my number start at 2.2, for along time. Then over 6 months it was at 6.5. So I scheduled an appointment to see a urologist. He said I was young enough and in good enough health to go for it. So then there was a prostate biopsy. It showed the tumor, dead center. Then came the bone scan. That was clear. Surgery was scheduled. In the OR I was placed on the table and tilted 45 degrees head down. By that time I was unconscious, but before so, I heard a female voice say, “It’s beating right along.” Next thing I was in the recovery room. Doctor said the operation took about four hours. There were two doctors present. One in the OR and one away somewhere on a monitor, and joysticks. When I came home after learning I had cancer and told my wife, she laid on the bed and was crying. Was there a long time. But, I had read up on everything about this particular kind of cancer so was able to calm her down. So anyway, surgery isn’t like what it used to be, I mean losing the ability. My experience turned out to be more like a glorified vasectomy. In a way, the government saved my life, took away the ammunition factory, but left a serviceable gun.
Don’t be afraid of anything. See a doctor.