Tears were a frequent sight during the MonDak Relay for Life this weekend as participants remembered loved ones who were taken by cancer, those battling cancer and the ones who survived cancer.
“It was a fun night,” co-chair Toni Zieske said. The event raised more than $56,000 with about 74 survivors who participated in the walk. “More teams have registered this year compared to last year and so participation was up in that area also.”
 Libby Berndt | Sidney Herald Participants show the amount raised this year. |
“I experienced shock,” she said through tears, “anger, and then I was hysterical, and I was alone.”
Syth had to wait six weeks to heal before she could see an oncologist. “Luckily my cancer was confined to the lining so it was contained,” she said, adding she was fortunate not to undergo chemotherapy or radiation.
Now that she’s been cancer-free with a brief scare this last winter, Syth told the audience she wants everyone to be aware of the danger. “Cancer can hit any one of you,”she said. “If your body is telling you anything that is unusual, go and get it checked.” She noted not to worry about the financial help as it’s available through the American Cancer Society.
Syth ended her survivor speech when she brought a group of cancer survivors up to the stage with her to illustrate how cancer affects people of all ages, shapes and sizes. “We need to stop the cancer from these little kids up to the older people,” she said.
She introduced individuals on the stage including Cedar Hovde, 2, who is battling a rare eye cancer and must travel to Tennessee for treatment every three weeks; Margaret Carranza, 98, who is a six-year breast cancer survivor, and other cancer survivors along with people whose lives have been influenced by family or friends with cancer.
“If you read it or hear somebody talk about it you’ll remember it for a little bit, but if you actually see a visual you’ll remember it a lot longer,” Syth said, holding back tears.
reporter@sidneyherald.com
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