Sharpsburg holds first Relay for Life Event
Relay For Life is a festive event for all ages that focuses on solidarity and fund-raising for the fight against cancer.
Last Saturday the community of Sharpsburg held their first Relay to remember loved ones who have lost the battle against cancer, to celebrate those who have conquered the disease, and to support those still fighting.
As a cancer survivor herself, Mayor Dorothy Clemons organized the event as part of the cities bicentennial series of celebrations.
Local churches and citizens made up several teams to show their support and help raise money in the fight against cancer.
The morning began with a welcome from Mayor Clemons and prayer and scripture was given by Andy Wyant, Minister of the Grace Gospel Tabernacle Church.
Special guest speaker, Dana Shelley Razor shared her story and spoke of her own struggles and determination to beat cancer.
Opening ceremonies began with a survivors and caregivers walk around the gym and was followed by different teams throughout the day.
Christi Crump, Branch Manager of the Sharpsburg Community Library spoke during the closing ceremony.
“Good afternoon. On behalf of not only the library, but the entire communities of Sharpsburg and Bethel, I would like to thank all of you for taking time out of your busy weekend to come out and join us in celebrating our cancer survivors and remembering those we’ve lost.
Each one of our lives, as well as every life that is on that wall in the library has been a beacon in this world that is oftentimes grim and cold. And each time cancer has reared its ugly head, it has desperately tried to steal all it can from those beacons. Each one of us here today has been robbed of something vital by cancer. What it doesn’t take away all at once, it tries to chip away, bit by bit.
But no matter how bleak and distressing this outlook sounds, there is one thing that cancer will never be able to take from any of us, and that is hope. Hope is the reason we are here today. Hope that those that have survived will always be recognized for their remarkable tenacity and inspiration. Hope that our loved ones that have been stolen from us will never be forgotten. Hope that this vicious disease will one day be eradicated from the face of the Earth. Hope will ALWAYS be a bright light in the powerful shade of adversity that cancer tries to throw at us.
Dylan Thomas, one of the most celebrated poets of our lifetime, wrote a poem entitled, “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night,” where he encourages us to rise up in the face of such adversity, and show it that we will NOT be knocked down. I’d like to share that poem with you all today:
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on that sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Cancer has stolen something from each and every one of us here today, but we refuse to let it steal our essence. We refuse to let it steal our hope. We refuse to let it steal our light. Thank you all again for coming out today, and may God bless all of you”.
Relay For Life’s objective is to raise funds for the fight against cancer.
These funds are remitted in full to the Foundation against Cancer, whose mission is to support scientific research financially; to promote prevention and healthy lifestyles through awareness and education and to provide social care to people affected by cancer, along with their families.
