The Wake

Illustration by Lucy Michell

I have always wanted to be a superhero. I am sure I am not alone in this dream. What with Superman, Batman, Spiderman, and Harry Potter out there, there is no chance that I am the only individual that wants to live the dream. But to be honest, my superhero knowledge begins and ends with the few episodes of Power Rangers I have seen and a handful of recent action films. In hopes of achieving my superhero goal, I decided it would be best to find some superheroes. I searched for a sign that would point me in the right direction, either to the bat cave or super-secret lair, but those signs are hard to find. Instead, inspiration came to me in the form of a pink Post-it note directing me to Relay for Life.

So, I had a direction, but I needed some force to fight against. A nemesis. An arch-enemy. A sinister power that threatened mankind. Relay for Life proved to be a great method of action against an overwhelming problem facing humanity: cancer. Today, one in three people will be diagnosed with some form of cancer. That is one third of the population. I had found my nemesis.

Time to find some allies. No great superhero is without allies and a network of support. Relay for Life has been held annually at the University of Minnesota for five years now, but this is the second year it has been student-run by the campus organization Colleges Against Cancer (CAC). Jenna Langer, co-chairperson of the CAC noted that the Relay is a wonderful community of support; a uniting force bringing people from all demographics and communities together: researchers, legislators, students, and so many more.

Langer is also a two-time survivor of cancer and knows how critical a support system is. “Losing hope is the worst thing that can happen,” she admits, but emphasizes that Relay for Life raises money for cancer research while creating an atmosphere of hope. Langer highlights the Survivor Walk, the first lap of the Relay, in which cancer survivors circle the track. The moment is powerful and it is “great to have people see the survivors’ network.”

The network does not stop there. With the startling amount of people that will be diagnosed with cancer in the future, it becomes evident that cancer touches everyone. Kirsten Lesak-Greenberg, member of CAC and first-time Relay for Life participant urges people to get involved. She supports research funded by this event, saying “it can save your family and it can save your friends.”

Langer’s first battle with cancer was aided with a new method of chemotherapy. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a pediatric bone cancer, which is usually treated with chemotherapy or amputation of the affected region. Her tumor was located in her brain and was surrounded by an artery. However, a doctor approached Langer with a new radiation process using a direct ray. This new technology was able to reduce the tumor and Langer entered remission about a year later.

Langer informed me that this year, the idea was to “fight back with superhero strength because that is what it takes: an entourage of superheroes. And everyone has different superhero qualities.” Her enthusiasm convinced me that this was going to work. The Relay for Life is more than a fundraiser for cancer research and new innovation; it is a celebration of survivorship. While doctors and researchers find new treatments and potentially a cure, everyone else can fuel the power of hope by joining together to celebrate, remember and fight back. “It is a great example of how engaged students are in something bigger then themselves,” Langer noted.

At least 42 campus survivors will be present at this year’s Relay for Life, helping to kick off Minnesota’s series of Relays. Financially, the goal this year is $130,000, which will go towards funding cancer research. In fact, a large amount of the money raised will return to the U of M’s cancer research center. Physically, the Relay is an opportunity to witness the comradeship and strength of some extraordinary individuals. Cancer survivors face the possibility of relapse for the rest of their lives, but with the celebration of survivorship and inspirational events like the Relay for Life, each person can live every day with strength and hope.