Editor’s Note: As a lead-up to this weekend’s Chenango County Relay for Life (July 15-16 at the Chenango County Fairgrounds), we’ve asked several participants to share their personal stories with Evening Sun readers. This is Why I Relay ...

Christine Johnson

Because it seems like cancer has taken over everywhere ...

I have lost an aunt, and my very best friend’s mother. A very good friend who was very young and left three little kids behind. My brother-in-law has lost a brother and sister, and has another sister fighting it. My girlfriend’s niece is fighting – she is so young and has 2 little boys. I have had two neighbors die from it, two neighbors fighting it. My son-in-law’s grandmother has fought breast cancer twice now. My husband’s brother and his wife are both fighting it right now. Another friend lost her father. And many more in my town that have died or are fighting. It is a very scary thing.

Every time you turn around there is someone else fighting, or dying.

It scares me and I wish and pray for a cure all the time. I help in any way that I can, to hopefully hear some day there is a medication or something that will cure it, or a medication that can prevent it from killing.

It is just too sad to think about.

Debra Kressler

In 2002, my older brother was diagnosed with lung cancer. Following the removal of his lung, he has done well. His diagnosis was followed by my mother’s diagnosis with lung cancer. Her tumor was inoperable and after a brave fight, she lost her battle in 2005. My younger brother, during a screening for a bowel blockage, was found to have a malignant tumor on his kidney. Following the removal of his kidney, he is doing well. Shortly after that, my father was diagnosed with lung cancer and died in February of 2011.

I lost my godmother to uterine cancer and one of my best friends to ovarian cancer. I’ve seen a 26-year-old friend of my daughter go through a double mastectomy, chemo and radiation to survive breast cancer.

I relay to support cancer research.