A Life-affirming race
By Daily Press staff
Later this month, Santa Monicans will rally together for 24 hours to battle cancer.
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is an overnight team event that raises awareness of cancer in the community and raises money to fight the disease.
The team event begins Saturday, July 24, at 9 a.m. and runs continuously until 9 a.m. on Sunday, July 25.
Leading up to the event, the Daily Press will highlight volunteers’ stories: Lisa Purkhiser I am a 54-year-old professional woman, native Angelino, who lives in Hawthorne, works in El Segundo at Raytheon Co., and am the volunteer chair for the Santa Monica Relay for Life.
In a few days, I will be remembering the 10-year anniversary of my brother, Rex’s final surrender to bone cancer. He was diagnosed with a rare bone disease about six months after he was born in 1951, and he endured more than 40 operations in his short life.
His diagnosis changed suddenly to bone cancer when he was in his late 30s — but it was OK — because it was the “slow growing” kind. He had always been cheerful, bright, talented, and funny but I suppose you can only fight for so long before you eventually give up. He had used crutches all his life but with every operation he became more and more dependent on them. First were his knees, ankles, then a hip, then the other. There was less and less Rex to haul around. I was able to stay at his house for the last week of his life. He chose to remain in his home with his wife, our mother, his many, many visiting friends, relatives and me. He was in a big hospital bed in the living room/dining room where we attempted to “act normally.” Rex was given incredible amounts of morphine (he had been using it and others for several years) but still seemed to be in pain. It took my baby brother eight days to die. We prayed that he would be taken quickly. We prayed for forgiveness. We prayed to trade places with him but we had no power to influence God or Rex’s disease. When he finally succumbed, we were all left with a tremendous void which had been filled with the wonderful man who had been my brother.
We were powerless when it came to reversing Rex’s cancer. I read a lot about it after his death but it wasn’t until my dear friend Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer — seven years later that I saw a chance to help — not only Linda but potentially millions of people who may be diagnosed with this horrific disease. Linda is a very strong individual with a positive attitude and had a lot of friends, and family, who rallied around in our attempt to help.
Not everyone is as strong as Linda, nor do most people have her dynamic support group. But she also was lucky in that her cancer was diagnosed early. Through the American Cancer Society there is hope. It maybe too late for my brother but I know that the money we raise for the Relay for Life will put us one step closer to a cure.
I am volunteering for the Santa Monica Relay for several reasons. Unlike other charitable activities I have been involved in, I found incredible self-less dedication, empathy and camaraderie the “Relay people” exhibited so very inspiring.
The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life donates an amazing amount of the proceeds to research and education. The percentage is practically unheard of. I believe it is because the minute you start talking “cancer” people are connected. Who doesn’t have a friend or loved one touched by cancer?
This will be my second Relay for Life in Santa Monica with my fantastic friends and our “Fighting (Against Cancer) Flamingos!” Our team raised $5,000 last year and figured with a team twice as big, we should be able to raise $10,000.
As the volunteer coordinator for the Relay, I need volunteers to help wherever they are needed. Each of the committee members has a need for volunteers and some of the activities are even fun. Want to help with Kids Camp? Are you a member of a group that wants to “give back” to the community? Do you just want to help? Then give me a call at (310) 676-3760 and we will match you up with a memorable activity.
The Santa Monica community has raised more than $100,000 since 2002, when the first American Cancer Society Relay For Life was held. This year, the third annual Relay will be held at Santa Monica College’s Corsair Field on July 24-25.
Teams are made up of at least 10 to 20 people who will walk or run around the SMC track in shifts, with the goal being that someone is on the track at all times. Each team member raises money in the weeks leading up to the event. The event is not only to raise money to fight cancer, but also to remember loved ones who lost their battle to the disease and celebrate the lives of those who have survived.
There will be dozens of cancer survivors — representing all forms — walking the opening lap on Saturday morning. From there, the weekend is all about fun, community and raising money. To participate, recruit friends, family members, co-workers and neighbors to form a relay team. People camp out and create a community party atmosphere together.
For more information, contact the SMRFL Committee at (310) 348-0356.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 21, 2004. Read the original PDF.