Run 4 Life: Stuttgart military community relay salutes cancer warriors, promotes awareness

By Ms. Brittany Carlson (IMCOM)October 18, 2010

Run 4 Life: Stuttgart military community relay salutes cancer warriors, promotes awareness
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

STUTTGART, Germany -- Cancer doesn't discriminate.

Liz Cruickshank will attest to that.

She was a healthy, 39-year-old mother of three, preparing to move to U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart, when she found out she had renal carcinoid cancer, a rare form of the deadly disease. The cancer was found "accidentally" during a routine check-up.

But instead of giving up on life, she came up with the idea to hold a relay event symbolizing the fight for life, similar to "Relay for Life" events in the United States.

Her vision became a reality Oct. 1, when she was able to host USAG Stuttgart's first "Run 4 Life," with help from the Panzer Contemporary Service Cancer Support Group and USAG Stuttgart Equal Employment Opportunity Office Special Emphasis Committee.

"This is not a sad event," she said. "It's a positive event. It's about fighting. I'm still fighting."

Hundreds of community members, including "cancer warriors" - those who have survived or are battling cancer - flocked to Patch Barracks' Husky Field that sunny autumn evening to run (and walk) around the track in support of cancer awareness.

"For a person who's fighting cancer, to see other people who have beat the disease ... it gives you hope that you have a chance of making it," she said, as she watched lines of people signing up for the event. "I'm, like, tingling right now."

The main goal of the event was to inform community members about how widespread and destructive cancer really is, Cruickshank said.

"It's about people understanding the prevalence of cancer [to] stand up to cancer, sharing information to find a cure, and getting support to find a cure," she said.

The Run 4 Life was held in conjunction with Disability Employment Awareness Month and themed "Cancer Doesn't Discriminate." According to the U.S. EEO Commission, cancer is considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 "when it or its side effects substantially limit(s) one or more of a person's major life activities."

The relay lasted from 6 p.m. to midnight, designed for teams to stagger different individuals on the track throughout the evening, illustrating that people should always be on the alert to detect cancer early on.

"You have to be vigilant," Cruickshank said. "That's where the luminarias come in."

Luminarias are typically paper bags with candles in them, sometimes used for remembrance. In USAG Stuttgart's Run 4 Life, the "luminarias" were chem lights, wrapped with the names of community members' loved ones who have been affected by cancer. The lights were placed around Husky Field and lit during the first lap: the "Warrior Lap."

"The luminarias are a way to remember people who are currently cancer warriors and people who have passed, and to light the field for us - to be vigilant," Cruickshank said.

Having chem lights highlighted the fact that USAG Stuttgart is a military community, and emphasized the idea of being a cancer warrior, she added.

Before the relay, many community organizations and volunteers provided entertainment for participants.

Youth in the Child, Youth and School Services School of Knowledge, Inspiration, Exploration and Skills program displayed their skills in Irish step dance, pop dancing and playing the guitar.

The Patch High School cheerleading squad also performed a routine and led runners in some stretches.

Tammy Krome, Patch Theater Manager, acted as master of ceremonies and succeeded in getting some cancer warriors to join the children in dancing on the field.

MaxFracas, a local band, provided music during the relay.

About 60 volunteers came to the event.

Stuttgart Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, the American Red Cross, Army Wellness Center Stuttgart, the PHS cross country team and many others set up tents on Husky Field to sell baked goods, hot dogs, chicken soup and other fare to the relay participants.

"I'm excited about all the support that's out there," Cruickshank said.

One Girl Scout set up a stand where people could write cards to children suffering with cancer in a Washington, D.C. hospital, as part of her Girl Scout Silver Award project.

"I'm trying to focus on kids in the community [writing the cards]," said Jasmine Tapscott, 13. "It's important ... to realize people are needier than you are."

The pre-event entertainment and booths provided some moments of lighthearted fun before the event's opening ceremony, which gave participants cause to reflect.

During the ceremony, Command Sgt. Major Anthony M. Bryant, garrison command sergeant major, offered his praise to community cancer warriors.

"Many of you have persistently fought the battle against cancer and I salute you for your courage," he said.

Alma Fowler, the Cancer Support Group founder, read a poem titled "Ask Me About My Scars," by former group member Mimi Langenderfer.

Cruickshank read some statistics, including the fact that cancer was the leading cause of death in 2010, surpassing heart disease.

However, she said, if participants only remembered one piece of information, it should be this: "Cancer does not discriminate. Cancer does not care what color your skin is, what car you drive, how old you are," she said.

Her words set the stage for the main event: the Warriors' Lap, which kicked off the relay. As the sun set, and chem lights were illuminated around the track, cancer warriors in special black t-shirts walked around the track. In the background, the Patch High School Choir's rendition of "You Raise Me Up" sounded from center stage.

Then, other teams joined in, building the group to a huge column of people on the track.

A total of 28 teams participated in the relay, including U.S. Africa Command C4; Marine Corps Forces, Europe; Marine Corps Forces, Africa; Special Operations Command-Africa, SOC-Europe and Defense Information Systems Agency.

While the Run 4 Life was a non-profit event, some units chose to raise money in support of finding a cure for cancer. For example, Naval Special Warfare Unit 2 raised $700, which it will donate to "Stand up to Cancer," Cruickshank said.

Other teams donated their time and support.

"We are here in full force to support cancer awareness because one of our PTA members is currently struggling with cancer," said Elizabeth Casciaro, a teacher at BAfAPblingen Elementary/Middle School, who ran with the BEMS team.

Still others counted it a blessing to be on the track at all.

Brian Wiese, 28, walked in the Run 4 Life as one of the youngest cancer warriors on the track. He survived non-Hodgkins lymphoma when he was 17 years old, and a junior in high school.

He said he's living proof that cancer doesn't discriminate.

"You can do everything, have a super healthy lifestyle, and it'll get you," he said. "It's a tough, really difficult thing to go through."

It's been 11 years for Wiese since his battle with cancer, and he said it was good to think about life again from the perspective of a survivor.

"It's good to get back into the mindset," he said. "It's humbling ... ."

"I feel like I've been lucky," he added, enjoying a couple of hot dogs and some fruit on the field after the first few laps. "I feel like we're all lucky."

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