On the fast track for a cancer cure

Tom Wiley has experienced the pain of cancer - both as a supporting loved one when his wife battled and beat breast cancer, and as a patient given 30 days to live.

Despite his victory over liver cancer following a transplant in 2004, Wiley isn't yet 100 percent. His immune system remains in a weakened state and he has to be careful in public because he's at risk of catching someone else's germs.

That might make some hesitate to gather with hundreds of Brooksville and Spring Hill residents at Hernando High School, but for a Relay For Life event to promote an end to cancer, Wiley wasn't about to miss out.

And armed with antibacterial gel, he - along with hundreds of others - proudly took to the track to walk for a cure.

"It definitely makes you look at life differently," Wiley said. "This isn't just a relay, this is life itself."

Hundreds of residents gathered Friday night for the annual Relay for Life event that began at 6 p.m. and ended at noon Saturday. The event included games, music, speakers and ceremonies to honor those who have battled cancer.

This year marked the 26th anniversary of the event, which is held in cities across the country to raise money for a cancer cure. The theme this year was "On a Fast Track to a Cure."

While teams consistently kept a representative on the track at all times, organizers held various games to keep spirits up, including a scavenger hunt, skipping and conga line around the track. There were also team competitions that included a limbo, egg toss, three legged race and a dancing contest.

Once it became dark, candles were lit around the track honoring cancer survivors along with those who've died due to the disease while candles on the stadium bleachers spelled out the word "HOPE" in large letters for all to see.

Julie Hofstede, team development chairwoman for the Brooksville Relay for Life, said the event is the second she's participated in and the first time she's helped organize.

She would like to see the event grow larger to include more area businesses and community members.

"It would really be nice to have more people come up with ideas for us to do here, especially ones that can help bring more businesses and people out here," Hofstede said. "I mean, this is an event that raises money and awareness for cancer. Just as my kids don't know what polio was - it's our hope that one day we'll be able to say the same thing about cancer."

The event for years has been a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society with all proceeds going toward cancer research. The event is usually a 24-hour event to represent how "cancer never sleeps," according to the American Cancer Society website.

Brooksville organizers said they would have to wait until later this week to know how much was raised locally from the event.

Despite how sad cancer can be, Wiley said one thing he appreciates every year is the camaraderie at the events and that the event brings people and communities together under one cause.

"There are friends and people you'd never have the opportunity to enjoy if not for a disease such as this," Wiley said. "That's something else you learn to appreciate more."