News : A night of hope for cancer survivors, caregivers, family and friends

The VGH team poses for photo.

AmeriCorps Maple 4 member Phil Schaefer places luminarias around the track as Relay for Life begins.

The Wall of Hope.

Survivors gather for their traditional lap, behind a collection of ACS flags.

Scout John McNeill and Scoutmaster Melvin Hurst salute the flag during National Anthem.

This team remembers Ron Erger with their black shirts.

The Benton County Peace Officers team walks the track.

Hope was the theme during the 2011 Benton County Relay for Life June 3.

Rachel Kramer and Gene Spicer were among the entertainers.

Matt Betterton and Scott Barron were among the team sponsors.

The Cedar Valley Bank team rallied around survivor Karen Raub.

The luminarias honored both survivors and those who died from cancer.

Scott Barron and Matt Betterton help light luminarias.

Lori Ferguson stood on a stage and said something that five and a half years ago she probably never would have imagined saying.
She said she would not, if given the choice, choose to live without cancer.

"I would not have traded having cancer because you find out what you're made of," Ferguson told the audience at the Benton County Relay for Life Friday evening. "Having cancer gives me the right to offer hope and encouragement to others, as others have done for me, to listen and to share my faith, and to pray for those who have struggled and are struggling to win their fight over cancer. It gives me empathy and understanding."

Ferguson summarized her experience with ovarian cancer, and shared the fact that despite being told she would be dead in three to four years, she is now a 5 1/2 year cancer survivor.

The Relay for Life events which take place all over the U.S. and in several other countries, serve two purposes: They help to raise money for cancer research, and to help cancer patients and their families; and they bring cancer survivors, caregivers and others together to help each other fight the disease and to work for a cure.

The word of the night -- written in lights at the top of the stadium at the Vinton-Shellsburg Football Field -- was HOPE.

"When you are giving care, you are giving hope," said Rev. David Lingard, who told the audience that both members of his family and his church congregation have inspired him by the way they faced their battles with cancer.

A total of 26 teams from throughout the county walked and raised funds for cancer research. The Survivors Lap featured 54 survivors with total of 355 years of combined survival.