Walk around the clock for a cure for cancer

Samantha Tomaro, 7, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma disease when she was just 2 years old, briskly walked the opening lap with other survivors during the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life at the Pahrump Valley High School track Saturday night. Thanks to advances in fighting cancer, Tomaro will be entering second grade this fall.

Walking a little slower around the track was an elderly Pat Ragnon, suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pushing a stroller with an oxygen tank.

Young and old, well-known politicians and unknowns, were all participating in the third annual relay in Pahrump to raise funds for cancer research. Co-coordinator Paula Elefante said about 125 walkers took turns walking counterclockwise around the track for 11 different teams.

The relay started a little late, on "Pahrump time," about 6:15 p.m., as members of Boy Scout Troop 808 presented the colors. This year, the Boy Scouts decided to spend the night and camp out alongside other teams taking turns walking the track all night. With the Sister Sledge song, "We Are Family," about two dozen cancer survivors walked the first lap, all wearing purple T-shirts. The relay ended at 8 a.m. Sunday.

"Obviously, this is a very, very important event," Pahrump town board chairwoman Mary Wilson said in welcoming walkers. She congratulated the survivors and all those who took time out for the event.

"Thank you for bringing all these people here to celebrate this relay for life for the American Cancer Society," Janet Toy said in the opening invocation. "There are so many who have survived this cancer. Thank you for them."

"This is an evening of celebration. We come together, our purpose is to fight this beast we know as cancer," breast cancer survivor Linda Kass told the audience.

Bernie Toy, 76, recalled his bout with lung cancer 40 years ago and how they had to remove part of his lung.

"I was one of the 5 percent that survived back then," Toy recalled before starting his walk. "I was 35 when I got it. I was 36 when they took it out."

Teams were encouraged to decorate with a theme. High school students who marched with the Kiwanis and Key Club team, wore aloha shirts and leis to show a Hawaiian theme. The Tumbling Road Nuggets, a team consisting of a combination of Tumbleweed's Tavern, the Roadrunner Turf n' Trail and the Pahrump Nugget Casino, decorated their tent according to their theme, the parrot heads.

The Bank of America, which had the largest turnout of walkers last year, had two tents set up on the football field. Bechtel/SAIC had 10 members walking the track. Three children, ages 6 and 7, were walking the track for the Rotary Club team.

Toni Dispensa, marching with the Boy Scouts, excitedly proclaimed she raised $1,000 in pledges.

"My step-mom had surgery for breast cancer yesterday. So this march is for her," Dispensa said. She added it was also her birthday. "I told people if you don't give me money, you have to spend the night with me."

Musician David Pop sang out Alan Greenwood's "God Bless The U.S.A." as well as tunes by America like "Tin Man" and "You Can Do Magic." Terry Sonneson also belted out some tunes to entertain the walkers and did some face painting for the kids.

American Cancer Society signs posted around the track carried reminders of cancer prevention. One sign read, "With your help, we supported legislation for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Act." Another sign read, "Be sun safe! Slip on a shirt; Slop on sunscreen; Slap on a hat." Still another sign read, "Nutrition and healthy lifestyle behaviors could help prevent one-third of all cancer deaths."

Sheriff Wade Lieseke Jr. related how he contracted melanoma, or skin cancer, in 1974. He still bears a patch of discolored skin on his neck.

Members of the Laureate Omicron chapter of Beta Sigma Phi filled luminarias with sand to weight them down, which bore messages on the outside dedicated to loved ones who died of cancer. The luminarias were placed around the track and illuminated with candles inside.

"In honor of Lora Shaner," read one luminaria. "In honor of Carlos Valencia" read another. Another luminaria read, "In memory of Irene Vianna, dedicated by Judith Vianna." Another read, "in memory of Joan Bollig, you will be greatly missed." Or still another read, "in memory of aunt Betty, aunt Vernie and brother Frank."

The festive atmosphere of the evening gave way to a solemn moment during the 9 p.m. ceremony when the luminarias were lit, the flood lights went out around the track and marchers walked around the track in silence, while an announcer read off tributes to the victims of cancer who were being remembered.

Phil Kalsman, regional vice-president of the Las Vegas and Southern Nevada area American Cancer Society, said Pahrump is one of nine regional American Cancer Society relays that have collectively raised more than $100,000. There isn't a big relay in Las Vegas, instead there are smaller relays held in Boulder City, Henderson and West Las Vegas, Kalsman said.

The money that's raised through the relays goes for cancer research; educating the public on early detection of cancer and how to live healthy lifestyles; advocating legislation; and patient services to improve the quality of life for cancer sufferers.

"I love this event. Any time we can get the community mobilized behind this cause, I'm absolutely appreciative. The American Cancer Society is a community-based organization trying to eliminate the disease," Kalsman said. "In 1996, we saw for the first time in modern history, more people surviving cancer than dying from it. We were able to tie that back to our efforts to reduce tobacco use among adults."

The American Cancer Society can have a greater impact on breast cancer and prostate cancer, Kalsman said, than in other cancers where little is known yet, like brain cancer.

"It's a fund-raiser, but it gives us an opportunity to get into community organizations. We can recruit volunteers," Kalsman said. "It gives people in the community the opportunity to fight back."

He added, "There are a lot of wonderful people left in the world and I see them at events like this."


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