Relay for life honors cancer victims

Jenny Jones/ Summer Reporter I THINK I CAN: The mascot for Conni Schwartz' team during the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. The train complemented the team's "The Little Engine That Could" theme.

By Jenny Jones
Staff Writer

Conni Schwartz sat at her best friend’s bedside during her friend’s last two days alive.

Schwartz’s friend had been diagnosed with a type of brain cancer and was told that she had two options. The first was to fight the cancer with intense chemotherapy — risking lung failure — and the second was to give in by letting the cancer take over. Schwartz’s friend chose the therapy.

"She was a fighter," said Schwartz, information analyst for the Center for Environmental and Regulatory Information Systems.

Schwartz’s friend ended chemotherapy cancer free, but was then told that her lungs failed. With no other options, Schwartz’s high school classmate applied for a lung transplant, but it was too late. She died Tuesday.

In honor of her friend, Schwartz took part in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. The relay lasted for 12 hours, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., running overnight Friday and into Saturday morning at the Jefferson High School track. At 9 p.m. a luminary, or candlelit, service was held to honor those people who have died from or are living with cancer.

Schwartz and her team, along with many other participants, pitched tents and stayed overnight for the relay. The team’s theme was from "The Little Engine That Could," but instead the team had an engine made that looked similar to the Boiler Express, and the team’s phrase was "I think I can, I think I can, I know I can." Most of the members dressed in Purdue shirts and tied red bandanas around their necks to complement the theme.

Schwartz was not the only member of the team honoring a friend; however, Sue Lakin, user services administrator, was also walking in remembrance of her best friend, who fought ovarian cancer for three years.

Lakin said, "You look and see (the cancer survivors) who really have beat it, then you walk around and see the (luminary) bags that say ‘in memory of,’ like my friends."

In addition to honoring the memory of cancer victims and raising money for the cancer society, Schwartz and Lakin’s team walked in the relay to earn mileage for Purdue’s Work, Life, Walking Club. The club is open to faculty and staff to encourage physical fitness.

"It’s to keep us fit," Schwartz said. "We walk everyday."

The goal of the club is for each member to walk at least 500 miles by August; Schwartz has walked over 300 miles so far.

Each member wears a pedometer everyday to measure mileage, just like they wear a watch, Schwartz said.

Walking in remembrance of friends, helping to raise money and earning mileage are not the only reasons the team participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Schwartz said she also walked as a tribute to her dog, which was put to sleep Dec. 6, 2000 because it suffered from lung cancer.

"(Cancer’s) not discriminating as far as being just for people," Schwartz said.

Schwartz and Lakin’s team raised over $2,500 for the American Cancer Society, and next year it hopes to gain sponsorship from Purdue.