Survivors brought together through Relay for Life

The 2012 Relay for Life of Mid-Del will be hosted by Rose State, where Sheppard is the physical plant office manager.

Several people close to her have been affected by various types of cancer, including a former physical plant director, other employees and some of her relatives, which makes this event personal for Sheppard and those she oversees.

“We have a lot invested in Relay for Life,” she said. “I lost my sister and her husband to cancer.”

A sapling from the Survivor Tree will be planted on campus to coincide with the overnight relay-style event, which will begin 7 p.m., June 8 and end at 7 a.m. the next morning.

Twenty percent of the teams registered for Relay for Life come from Rose State. “The Lifesavers,” “Club HOPE A Cabana” and the “Coco Nuts” are the team names for employees in the Health Science building, payroll offices and physical plant, respectively.

Tim Campbell, assistant director of operations at the physical plant, also is the Coco Nuts team captain. Campbell coordinates with others to ensure everyone enjoys the overnight event.

Walk, don’t run

Several misconceptions, which Campbell wanted to correct, are associated with events such as Relay for Life. Foremost, these events are not strenuous marathons.

“The only training you need is to be able to laugh and have a good time for a good cause,” he said. “You don’t have to walk all night. You can take turns.”

To illustrate the point, Campbell shared an experience from a Relay for Life event he attended a few years ago at Midwest City High School’s Bomber stadium “We had a grill, and some high school kids came up to us,” he said, “They asked if they could buy some of our burgers.”

The kids were told that he wouldn’t sell the burgers.

“However,” Campbell said, “’If you walk some laps for us, we’ll give you some burgers.”’ Campbell’s team won that year by having the highest number of laps.

“That’s how we got so many laps. We had all these high school kids walking laps with our logo for burgers,” he recalled.

Survivor story

An inspiration for Campbell is his friend LaNeal Barger, and her story of recovery. Barger was diagnosed with breast cancer, which has been in remission for the last six years.

“Having seen LaNeal go through chemo treatments,” Campbell said, “I believe in the cancer research program.”

Campbell said Barger doesn’t think of herself as a “survivor” of cancer.

“She doesn’t want to relive it,” he said. A former employee of Rose State College, Barger will be at the event with the rest of team Coco Nuts, as a living example of hope.

In addition to the solemn survivor’s lap, there will be a luminaria ceremony. After the sun sets, candles are lit in small brown bags surrounding the track in remembrance of loved ones affected by cancer.

Deadlines, fundraising

Comfort always is a necessity at the allnight events, so Campbell suggested a few items.

“Bring plenty of water,” he said, “Also, a lawn chair or a sleeping bag, whatever you need to be comfortable.”

While new teams can be created leading up to the night of the event, the deadline to create team shirts is May 11. Each team member must raise $100 for their t-shirt, which will have their team logo in addition to sponsorships.

Leading up to the Relay for Life, a fundraising garage sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 11-12 at 2312 Sandra Dr. in Midwest City.

A Survivor dinner also is planned from 6:30 – 8 p.m., May 17 in the Midwest City Community Center. A disc jockey and live entertainment will help celebrate the lives of those in attendance.

Dickie’s Restaurant and Olive Garden will be catering the event. The dinner is free of charge for survivors and their families.

For more information, contact Debra Taylor, the RSC Relay for Life chairperson, at 590-6951.

Logan Pierce is a freelance writer for EastWord News and a student at Rose State College.

Relay for Life team captain Tim Campbell studies the list of teams that have registered for the June 8-9 event at Rose State College. (Photo by Logan Pierce)