Cancer survivors, supporters and caregivers were out in full force Friday and Saturday, Aug. 13 and 14, at Sunny Lane Field in Monmouth, for  the Warren County Chapter’s Relay for Life. It was a beautiful evening for the event, which began Friday evening and ended Saturday morning.

 Honorary Member for the 2009 event was Martha Zimmerman, Little Swan Lake, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in September of 2005. Now a survivor, she shared her experience with the audience, acknowledged the support she received and encouraged those in attendance to ask for help when they needed it. 

“It’s not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength,” she said.

 One of the most impressive portions of the evening was the survivors walk, when survivors and supporters walked laps around the track as the names were read. They were accompanied by the Monmouth College bagpipers. Many of the participants shared their thoughts on why they were there with many of them thankful for the opportunity to get together.

 Ray Brodrick sang the National Anthem, and Becky Taylor, a co-chair, reported the chapter hoped to raise $65,000 for the 2009 event. Entertainment included tug-of-war, Bingo, balloon tosses, the Monmouth-Roseville High School pom-pom squad, the YMCA baton twirlers and the Galesburg Bear cheerleaders. 

Another bright note was the number of luminaria sold was just shy of 1,000 mark. One official observed that the generosity of residents was awesome, and the lumunaria was a “beautiful thing.”