ANDERSON -- Hugs were shared, tears were cried and stories of the battles of cancer were exchanged at the 8th annual Relay for Life held in Anderson at Highland High School on Friday night.
"The healing begins when we reach out," honorary chairwoman Judy Moore said. "The healing begins when we take that step as we are doing tonight. We are taking that step and walking for a cure."
Relay for Life began in 1985 by the American Cancer Society to celebrate survivorship and money for cancer research. During Anderson's first year of participation in 1996, $16,000 was raised. The goal for Friday night was $120,000. As of Sunday night event chairwoman Patty Farran calculated $98,000, but said there is still money to be added.
Farran is also an oncology nurse at Saint John's Medical Center and said working with cancer patients is "the most rewarding experience."
"It's a celebration of survivors," Farran said.
The relay's theme was "Cruisin for a Cure." The event lasted throughout the night -- 13 hours -- with at least one participant from each of the 70 teams walking continuously on the track. Live music, games, contests, massages and silent auctions were also provided to help raise money for cancer research.
"Everyone out here has been affected by cancer in one way or another," Moore said.
Anderson resident Linda Stevens and her extended family set up a tent to resemble a race car.
"I think this teaches them (family) to celebrate what you have," Stevens said.
Stevens' family raised more than $4,700 by selling bears and candy bars and by asking for donations from friends.
Oncologist V.C. Amin said the race gives the survivors recognition and encourages them to fight harder with their diseases.
"As doctors we feel we must cure everybody," Amin said. "I think that's the hardest part -- losing people that you come to like and know for some time."
Amin, who also works at Saint John's, said honesty is vital in helping someone who is going through the disease. He said doctors used to hide information from the patients, and families would be afraid to inform their loved ones of the situation.
"We talk very honestly to the patient; it's very important that they know what's going on," Amin said. "We don't make promises, but we tell them things as they are."
Besides fund-raisers and donations, many people sold luminaries at $10 each for months before the event. The luminaries were set up around the quarter-mile track with each representing a person who had or is fighting cancer.
Helen Young, who is currently fighting cancer, sold 16 luminaries and attended the event with her husband Bob who is also a survivor. The two have been married for almost 55 years.
"You think it can't happen to you, but it can," Young said. "We have to do for each other now."
Each of the names were read during the luminary ceremony, leaving 1,750 candles lighting the night with "Hope" spelled out on the bleachers.
Several food vendors set up outside the track enabling participants to grab a bite during the long hours of the night. A percentage of the proceeds went to the American Cancer Society.
Chief Anderson Lion's Club sold nachos, pop and hotdogs with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.
"'We Serve' is our motto," said Lion's Club treasurer and vice president Robert Merrill said.
A group of women from Anderson put together a team in memory of their friend, Linda Kahl, whom they lost to cancer last December. The women continued to visit Linda until she died because she became too weak to attend social gatherings outside her home.
"She really loved life; she had a great 'oomph' for life," Moore said. Linda's friends hope to put together a team annually.
The idea of finding a cure is more involved than people might imagine, considering there are 150 types of cancer, Amin said.
"In treatment of cancer we are climbing one step at a time; it's hard to believe that one treatment will cure all cancers," he said.
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