Cancer event raises big bucks and hopes for many

Area residents brought in about $100,000 for this past weekend's Relay for Life, an annual event to raise cash for cancer research and services.

Hundreds of participants and supporters turned out for the Sun Prairie gathering, held at the high school track Friday evening through Saturday morning.

Dwan Johnson (photo), American Cancer Society representative, reported that for the second year in a row, cancer deaths have fallen. "Congratulations for being a big part of that ... for fundraising."

Mayor Joe Chase spoke of how he came to last year's Relay around 4:30 a.m. Saturday. "When I got down here ... I started walking and looking around and I started to get an understanding of why you're all here."

He spoke of being overcome by the "feeling of hope, the feeling of community, the feeling of tribute to those who have passed on and to all those who are survivors."

Among the most encouraging stories of the evening were those of Bryan Heins (picture) and Mike Powers (related article), honorary co-chairs of the Sun Prairie Relay for Life.

The power of positive thinking

Heins received enthusiastic cheers when he reported, "I just got over cancer three months ago."

Heins discovered last October that he had testicular cancer. "I didn't know what to think," he said of the moment he learned his diagnosis. "Was I going to live or die? I had no idea."

He went through surgery and chemotherapy. Then, at a fundraiser to help with the expenses he was incurring, he met a man he calls "one of my biggest inspirations."

"He was perfectly normal but now he is in a wheelchair and partially blind. But the whole entire time I was talking to him, all he kept saying was never give up. Never stop fighting."

Heins went throughout more rounds of chemo before learning he had additional cancer and would require more surgery.

It was tough going -- mentally and physically, he said, but he just kept telling himself that one day it would be over.

"Four weeks later I came in for my checkup and found out I was cancer free," he said. "That was the best news I ever heard."

"The most important thing is to stay positive, even in the hardest times."

The power of prayer

Powers, kicking off a rememberance ceremony in the center of the field, said he'd been invited to past relays but always had scheduling conflicts.

"This time around it's been a little bit closer to home for me," he said. "It was January of this year that I was diagnosed with prostrate cancer. It was something that I was not really sure how to deal with."

"Through a lot of prayer and the support of family members I had a really wonderful opportunity to see how God was going to work in my life," he said.

"My voice and presence has been in the community for a long time," said Powers, an on-air personality for WNWC radio and one of the voices of Cardinal football on KSUN. "But this is the first time I've had to deal with this type of situation where people were really stepping forward and helping me and ministering to me in my time of need.

Powers had surgery in February and his most recent blood test shows him to be cancer free.

"To all of those here who prayed for me from the various churches in the community, I just can't say thank you enough."

Looking around at the luminaries representing those who have died from cancer, Powers said, "just continue to work together, to hear each other's pains and hursts, and really help each other in building each other up along the way."

View some photos from Sun Prairie's Relay for Life:

Dressed in a variety of "team uniforms," including Batman costumes, participants logged thousands of laps on the Sun Prairie High School track.

Walking hand-in-hand, Relay participants showed their unity in the fight against cancer.

Early in the evening, volunteers helped fill paper bags with sand for the luminaries that would serve as a tribute to those who've battled cancer.

Luminaries lined the track, reminding walkers of those who've been touched by cancer.

Handmade posters showed the international extent of the disease.

Volunteers, such as these students from Karate America, provided entertainment for the walkers.

Students from Lakeside School of Massage Therapy provided relief to walkers' aching muscles.

Editor's note: Eighty-seven percent of those responding to Sun Prairie Today's most recent reader poll question -- Have you or an immediate relative been affected by cancer? -- answered yes.

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