A Relay for Life, Hope at CCBC Essex

Rachel Riskin was one of the smallest people at Friday’s Relay for Life event at the Community College of Baltimore County Essex.

But, to the hundreds in attendance, the 7-year-old Bel Air girl represented one of the biggest signs of hope in the battle against cancer.

Riskin was diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was 3 years old and underwent a grueling nine months that included surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

On Friday, she celebrated four years in remission and was one of 100 cancer survivors honored at the annual event. In all, 40 teams that included about 350 people helped raise more than $86,000 for the American Cancer Society.

“It’s so easy to get wrapped up in life, but Rachel has shown us how important it is to stop and smell the roses,” said Michael Riskin, Rachel’s father. “We feel it’s important to be here because you can definitely feel the sense of hope. “

Rachel’s story was one of many inspirational tales shared at Relay for Life, which included cancer survivors ranging from three months to 34 years. Among those survivors was Barbara Tower, a two-time breast cancer survivor first diagnosed in 1993.

The assistant to the vice president of enrollment and student services for CCBC, Tower told the crowd how important it is to not consider cancer a death sentence, but a reason to keep living and fighting.

“It’s important that we fight back so that one day we can hopefully live in a world that does not have cancer,” she said.

Earle and Kathy Prior have worked on the Essex Relay event for 16 years; both are multiple time cancer survivors. Earle has beat skin cancer, while Kathy has had breast cancer twice.

Earle Prior said he sees many of the same people come back and help recruit others because of the bond created during Relay.

“You make lifelong friends here, even though you may only speak to many of these people once a year,” he said. “It’s so motivational because it shows you that other people are fighting cancer, and winning, too.”

However, Relay for Life is not an event just for survivors. It also takes the time to remember those who lost their lives to the disease.

Family and friends of those who lost someone to cancer also spoke as a way of paying tribute to them, and also to show people the importance of savoring every day with their loved ones.

Diane Culver lost her husband, Kenneth, on Jan. 21, 2010 after a two-year battle with lung cancer. The 55-year-old husband, father and grandfather was a Scout leader and active in his church and community, and, his wife added, never let his diagnosis stop him from living.

“Due to this awful disease, the world will no longer get to benefit from his efforts, passion and good deeds," Culver said. "With today’s ever-evolving medical technology and medicine, Ken was able to live out his purposeful life for two full years after his first diagnosis.

“We will never know if Ken reached his fullest potential, but let’s help others have an opportunity to fulfill their countless contributions and endless possibilities. Imagine a world cancer-free.”

Culver said telling Kenneth's story was something she felt she had to do even as she and her family are still coping with his death.

"Ken never lost faith and never got angry after his diagnosis," she said. "This was our way of honoring him and offering others hope—to let them know not to give up and understand you are not in this alone."

Donations can still be made for the Essex Relay for Life event by clicking here.