Juli Watson is fed up with watching cancer hurt her family, friends and patients.
‘We have to beat this awful disease,? said the 33-year-old Oxford resident. ‘The way to do it is for communities to come together to take up the fight.?
That’s why she agreed to chair the planning committee which organized the 3rd Annual Oxford Relay for Life being held from 10 a.m. Saturday, May 19 through 10 a.m. Sunday, May 20.
Nineteen teams ? including families, schools, businesses, service groups and churches ? will participate in this year’s 24-hour relay, which is the American Cancer Society’s signature fund-raising and awareness-building event.
As of Monday, Oxford’s relay had raised $25,138 ‘and counting,? according to Anna Agustin, community representative for the American Cancer Society.
‘The last 10 days before our Relay events are generally the highest fund-raising days,? Agustin said. ‘Hopefully, we’ll see a big surge in the coming week.?
Last year’s relay raised about $51,000.
All of the relay teams will spending the weekend camped out on the high school football field.
Between 250 and 300 participants are expected to take turns walking, jogging and running around the quarter-mile track encircling the field.
Each team, many of which are still accepting members, is required to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. ‘It’s a 24-hour event to remind everyone that cancer never sleeps,? said Watson, who’s a Registered Nurse.
This is Watson’s fourth year of involvement with the Relay for Life. ‘As a nurse I feel like I’m supposed to fix everybody, make them better,? she said.
Besides chairing the planning committee, Watson will once again serve as team captain for ‘Eagles Nest? (Orion/Oxford Eagles #3613).
Cancer’s effect on the lives of those around her is what prompted Watson to take up the fight against it.
One of her uncles died of lung cancer when he was 49 years old while another uncle survived colon cancer. She also had an aunt survive breast cancer.
But the ‘one that hits closest to home? for Watson was when her best friend ? a woman she graduated high school with and is only seven days older than her ? had to have a double mastectomy because of breast cancer, hysterectomy due to uterine cancer and her thyroid removed.
‘She’s been through the wringer,? Watson said. ‘It’s awful.?
Both Watson and Agustin are encouraging people to visit at any point during the relay. ‘It’s open to the public, so if people just want to come and enjoy the day, that’s great,? Agustin said.
‘We’ve got a lot of fun stuff going on for the public,? Watson noted.
Center Stage Dance, Oxford Academy of Dance and Classic Chorale will keep the crowd entertained with their stage shows.
Moonwalks, clowns and the ABC Tumblebus will be on site to keep the kiddies smiling. As always, the individual camp sites will offer a variety of games, activities and snacks as on-site fund-raisers.
‘All the money goes to the Cancer Society,? Watson said.
Anyone who’s ever been diagnosed with cancer, be it five days ago or five years ago, is invited to participate in the Survivor Celebration and Lap around the track at 11 a.m. Saturday.
‘If any survivors want to come out, walk and celebrate life, they’re definitely welcome,? Agustin said.
Watson’s favorite part of the relay is the Luminaria Ceremony at 10 p.m. Saturday. Small white paper bags weighted by sand, illuminated by candles and decorated with names, photos and drawings are placed around the outside of the track.
‘Every light lit is for a life that’s been touched by cancer,? Watson said. ‘When you see them all lit up around the whole track, it’s a visual reminder of just how many people have been affected.?
Watson admitted chairing the relay has been a lot easier than she originally thought it would be thanks to the other 15 planning committee members who she said did ‘absolutely every single thing to get this event going.?
‘Each and every one of them has been the legs, the arms and the brain to make it all work,? she said.
Prior to the Suvivor Celebration and Lap, the planning committee will walk a lap to honor the memory of Oxford resident Luke Landry, who passed away Friday from brain cancer. Landry, 46, was co-captain of the Starbucks relay team.
For more information e-mail Annalisa.Agustin@cancer.org or call (248) 557-5353.