Walking around Oxford’s 3rd Annual Relay for Life over the weekend you couldn’t help but encounter people whose lives have been touched by cancer.
As Oxford resident Judy Johnson, 64, rounded the high school track side-by-side with her 89-year-old mother, Jenny Klinkhamer, of Arizona, you could tell they shared a bond that went deeper than that of parent and child.
Both ladies are survivors of breast cancer. ‘We’ve been through it together and we’re doing well,? Johnson said.
Klinkhamer is a 41-year survivor of breast cancer while Johnson was diagnosed in August 2006.
‘She had it worse than I did,? said Klinkhamer.
Johnson had cancer in both breasts and had to have a double mastectomy.
Fortunately, her mother was right there by her side. ‘She was with me for the consultation and right through the surgery,? Johnson said.
Because of her family’s history, Johnson stresses the importance of mammograms, self-exams and early detection to her daughters and sisters.
Although she detected her breast cancer when she found a lump, Johnson said she’s ‘never missed? her yearly mammogram.
Johnson plans to make the Relay for Life a regular part of her life.
‘This is my first and not my last,? she said. ‘I think the support is great. We need it.?
Unfortunately, everybody’s cancer story doesn’t end with a tale of survival.
It was a solemn sight when OHS Junior Alex Johnson lit a luminaria to honor her father, Clifford Johnson, who passed away April 23 from colon cancer.
Clifford was diagnosed 2? years ago. He went into remission for a year, but the cancer returned over Christmas break and ‘it just took over,? according to Alex.
‘We’ve got to find a cure for this disease because it’s just awful and it takes so many innocent lives,? she said. ‘People shouldn’t die this way.?
A member of the girls varsity soccer squad, Alex will always remember the way her dad coached her and encouraged her, both at home and on the field.
The fight against cancer motivated Don Brantley, superintendent of the Oxford Village Department of Public Works, to dress up like a woman.
Brantley crammed his burly frame into some tight-fitting female clothes and slapped on a blonde wig as part of the Mr. Relay contest.
Dressed in drag, the male participants collected donations from the crowd using their purses. Whoever collected the most money was declared ‘Mr. Relay.?
Brantley’s wife, Lisa, said her manly-man husband normally never would have done such a thing, but he really wanted to help fight the disease that took away his 62-year-old mother, Bev, back in January.
It takes a big man to fill those high heels.