Manilow's Modems raise Funds for

by supporting The Aktion Club*

The Relay was fantastic and not a raindrop in sight, although it did get a bit windy in the afternoon and a few tarps took off like large kites soaring across the grounds in their attempt to become airborne. 

Since this was the first time many of our members had ever participated in anything quite like this, it was a trial to see how well they could handle it, and they all came through with flying colors!  Our goal was to walk during an eight-hour timeframe on Saturday, with members taking turns walking during two-hour shifts. 

The field was already crowded with tents, tarps, and friends greeting each other and our members started arriving in time to applaud the walkers during the always-emotional survivor lap.

Let me digress just a bit here by explaining that in 2003, both my sister and my mother were diagnosed with breast cancer within a few weeks of each other. I lost my sister to cancer in 2004 and my mother is now a four-year survivor.

Mom has two artificial knees, a hip replacement and one ankle fused with a rod down her leg. She gets around with a cane and a walker for the most part, but is slowing down these days. She insisted she was going to walk the survivor lap this year, but I had my doubts. She started the lap on her walker with Trevor and Laura walking next to her pushing a wheelchair ‘just in case’ she needed it. Damned if she didn’t get around that entire track all on her own! I know in my heart, she did it for my sister, and all I can say is, NEVER DOUBT YOUR MOTHER!

For the most part they would walk several laps, then stop for a brief rest and a snack or water while other members of our team took their turn at walking.  Many teams were giving away freebies to the walkers and our team members would come back, arms filled with candy, cookies, stuffed animals, stickers, pencils, magnets and necklaces and great big smiles on their faces. Our team handed out tootsie rolls and lollipops to the walkers, but since we had an inside site and couldn’t really be seen, we took large bowls to the track and passed out candy to give the walkers energy to complete even more laps. The walkers were very appreciative!

× Jodi, Brett and Winnie, just some of our Aktion Club members who participated at the Relay for Life 2007.

Robin, Shannon,Tom and Sigrid headed out for a few laps  Ø

× Laura, Mike, Paula, Aaron, Sandra and Beverly, all ready to get out there on the track and walk their socks off.

Trevor and his friend Laura, started walking at 10:00am during the survivor lap and I didn’t think we’d ever get them to stop.  We would pull them in and make them rest for a couple of minutes, but the minute I turned my back, they would be back on the track walking.  It was like pulling teeth to get Laura to stop when her caregiver came around 2:30 to take her home. She was not ready to stop walking and she let us know it.  Trevor walked until we dragged him off the track close to 5:00 pm.  I know it’s an old saying, ‘but if we could only bottle that energy’! 

  × Trevor is almost lost in the crowd of walkers on what I think is around his 35^th lap of the day.  Believe it or not, he found this event yet another great way to meet girls and actually came home with even MORE phone numbers.  What’s a mother to do?

Aaron, one of our Aktion Club members, always a smile on his face and determined to do whatever he sets out to do!  Ø

× Linda Miller, one of our Kiwanis Club sponsors, currently battling cancer herself, assists with the haircuts at the Locks of Love site. 

Laura, Winnie, Brett and Jodi handing out candy to the walkers as they pass by, take a minute to pose with the strawberry (or is it a tomato?) the carrot and the sun.  All the things that help keep us healthy! Ø