Cancer survivors celebrated at Pottsville Relay for Life

Jul. 31—POTTSVILLE — It is the hardest battle anyone could ever face, but they did it.

That was the message Pine Grove native Abby Zimmerman had for cancer survivors who attended the Pottsville Relay for Life on Friday evening.

More than 100 people, some organized into teams, participated in the event at Veterans Memorial Stadium behind Pottsville Area High School.

It kicked off with an opening ceremony, where co-chair and survivors chair Mary Jane MacLaughlin and Lisa Hoey, a community development manager with the American Cancer Society, welcomed attendees.

The national anthem was sung by 14-year-old Ella Grace Frantz, of West West Terrace, while the Schuylkill County Frontier Girls presented the flag.

The opening lap took place after the ceremony, led by the Frontier Girls.

Among the walkers were county commissioners Chairman Barron L. Hetheringon, Pottsville Mayor James T. Muldowney and city Councilman Mark Atkinson; and Pottsville Area School District Superintendent Sarah Yoder, school board President Noble C. "Bud" Quandel and board members Ashley DeWitt, Jerome Urban and Linda Wytovich. Quandel and Urban also walked with a team.

The event included a survivors ceremony that featured prayers, a moment of silence and the recognition of volunteers.

In remarks during the ceremony, Zimmerman, a physician assistant at Lehigh Valley Health Network's cancer center in Pottsville, spoke about her work with those fighting the disease.

She got into the field after losing both grandfathers to cancer and seeing her mom battle the disease, she said.

"I wanted to be able to help those fighting the same disease as my family," Zimmerman told the survivors.

While treatment has come a long way, she said, there are still improvements to be made. Zimmerman also outlined ways to prevent cancer.

Each survivor in attendance took a lap around the track after the ceremony. They received T-shirts, designed by MacLaughlin's daughter, Lauren MacLaughlin, of Pistoia, Italy, goodie bags, Begonia flowers and a bead for each year they had survived the disease. Caregivers were given yellow beaded necklaces.

Luminaria with messages on them lined the track and were lit. A slideshow was also presented. Tables with vendors, a photo booth and raffle baskets were also on the field. DJ Matt Uroskie provided music, with entertainment by Spotlight Kidz and Artists in Motion of Schuylkill Haven. Also featured was a photo booth for survivors and a Zumba class courtesy of Diakon Community Services, with Eileen Tarconish instructing.

This year was the first time the event was held since 2019, with the 2020 Relay for Life canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Last year's theme, "Carnival of Hope," was kept for this year. Event co-organizers MacLaughlin and Peggy Davis said before the opening ceremony they were happy to see people in person.

"It feels great to be outside," MacLaughlin said. "We're ecstatically happy."

Those who trekked around the track said they were also happy to be walking.

Virginia Bressler, of Saint Clair, was among a large team organized by ReDCo Group, of Pottsville, an organization that cares for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities and provides mental health needs. She walked with clients Jessica Schumann and Ada Wollyung, both of Minersville.

Schuman liked seeing people, while Wollyung said it felt good to walk. Bressler came to support the cause, adding that seeing the luminaria felt "very moving."

Cathy Kostick a seven-year breast cancer survivor, called the event "a good way to see people, interact and do good for the community." The Port Carbon woman walked with her husband, John, and daughter, Hannah Kostick, in honor of her father, Ralph Connors Jr., who died of pancreatic cancer.

MacLaughlin said that fundraising was already higher than last year, with $28,000 raised as of Friday afternoon.

Organized by the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life is the organization's signature event to raise money for cancer research and improving cancer patients' quality of life.

Contact the writer: clee@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6028; @Cleespot on Twitter