2011 Relay for Life event ready to start

CINDY WOOD/independent feature writer

Thor Friemoth was just 29 years old when he was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer. Twenty-three days before his 30th birthday, he lost his fight. Tonight, Friemoth’s family and loved ones will walk the course at Relay for Life to honor him, appreciate him and remember his courageous battle against a disease that now touches one in three people.

“It doesn’t just happen to older people,” said Faith Wallace, Friemoth’s mother. “Cancer can touch all people. We couldn’t save Thor, but it’s our hope that we can help save another person’s life with our efforts. He was a rock to the very end, and always worried about other people, and not himself. I couldn’t have been prouder to be his mother.”

Tonight, the team “Thor’s Memory” will join 21 other teams participating in the 27th annual Relay for Life, which will kick off at 6 p.m. at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds, where the event was moved due to recent weather conditions (click here for a calendar of events).

Patty Jenkins, co-chair of this year’s event, said despite a slight decrease in team participation this year, the local effort hopes to raise $77,000 towards the fight against cancer. “It’s probably going to be more difficult, but we were able to raise that last year, and were actually recognized for beating our goal,” Jenkins said. “But I know I eat, breathe, and sleep Relay when it’s here. It’s just something that you do for those who can’t.”

Jenkins first became involved with the event as a maurice’s team member several years ago, and each year, she’s wanted to get more involved. Jenkins has been affected by cancer throughout her family and extended family, and said it’s important for people to help fight a disease that destroys so many lives.

“I remember the first year I got involved it just meant so much to me, and it touched me,” Jenkins said, adding that she walked continually throughout the night her first year. “There was just absolutely no way that my feet were coming off that track. I thought to myself ‘I hurt so bad’ but it was literally nothing compared to what people dealing with cancer go through.”

Jenkins said activities are planned throughout the event, which runs throughout the night and closes with a ceremony at noon tomorrow. As always, the event begins by honoring survivors of cancer with a survivor’s lap and torch walk, followed by a caregiver’s lap and a luminaria service at 10 p.m.

Local vendors and home-based business consultants have donated items up for grabs in a new event this year, a quarter auction that begins at 9 p.m. tonight. The public is welcome to attend, and Jenkins warns, “bring your quarters. There are lots of direct sales vendors who have donated money to have a booth set up, and the majority of their profits will go to the American Cancer Society. They’ve also donated items to be auctioned off as well.”

Also new this year is Cow Patty Bingo. “Yes, Cow Patty Bingo. It’s just like it sounds,” Jenkins said. Community members are welcome to purchase a square on a life-size Bingo board for $5. The owner of the square graced with the largest cow patty will win $500 if all squares are sold. “It’s really funny, and it’s something different we’re trying this year,” Jenkins said, adding that squares could be purchased up until 9 tonight. Should Bessie decide not to leave a cow patty, all square-owners would be placed in a drawing and a winner drawn.

Walkers, and members of the public, are welcome to quell their appetite with a pancake and sausage breakfast from 7-10 a.m. Saturday, while a 5K run/walk will begin at 8 a.m.

Rain or shine, the event will go on, but Jenkins is hoping for good weather. If history is any indication, though, Relay walkers might need their rain gear, and a coat. Tonight’s forecast calls for patchy clouds with a low of 46 degrees, while Saturday should bring a high of 64 degrees.

Regardless of the chill, or any rainy weather, Wallace will be one of many people walking the course in an effort to raise money to fight cancer. Wallace is proud to do it, she said. “Losing Thor so fast without any warning signs showed me how silent cancer is, and how it takes over the body,” Wallace said. “Colon cancer is a silent killer and preventative measures need to be taken even though you think you are fine. I would hope that Thor did not leave this earth in vain and that what happened to him makes people aware that it can happen to anybody. Raising money through Relay for Life may be the only means we have to fight this deadly disease.”

Members of the public are welcome to donate money towards the fight against cancer throughout the event, or online donation is available at www.relayforlife.org/vanwertcounty. For more information about the event, call Jenkins at 419.203.4961.