Enjoy those first summer nights at ECC's relay for life

Stephanie Flood of Lake in the Hills says people are bound to have a cancer connection in their lives. That connection could be a friend, relative, acquaintance or someone met on the street.

Flood, a recent Elgin Community College graduate, spent five years undergoing four surgeries to eliminate a stubborn brain tumor. Cancer free since 2002, Flood is organizing ECC's June 13 American Cancer Society Relay For Life in the parking lot of the college's Student Resource Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.

"My life is basically just trying to get rid of this disease and to help other people who are going through the same types of things," she said.

ECC's relay takes place from 7 p.m. June 13 to 6 a.m. June 14. Community residents are invited.

During the relay, teams of 8 to 12 people spend the night walking around the parking lot of the Student Resource Center, camping out, enjoying music, celebrating those who have survived cancer, and remembering those who lost their battle to cancer.

Each team member raises a minimum of $100, and at least one member of each team is walking or running the track at all times.

The relay's opening ceremony begins at 7 p.m. and includes a cancer survivors' walk. At 9 p.m., a luminaria ceremony honors those who are battling cancer and to remember those who have lost their fight.

Luminarias are available for sale at $5 each and may be purchased by contacting the Student Life Office at (847) 214-7423.

"Relay For Life is bringing the ECC community together to honor each person who has been touched by this disease," said Katie Storey, ECC's coordinator of student volunteer/community outreach programs. "We will be raising money for much-needed cancer research, education, advocacy and service."

Flood said one of every three people are diagnosed with cancer, which reinforces her belief that everyone will experience a cancer connection. Although she continues to be cancer-free, the disease has affected many people close to her ˆ­- she recently lost her 89-year-old grandfather to lung and bone cancer.

Flood urges those who have not experienced cancer to take up the fight with her and others.

"They will have one in their life," she said of the possibility of encountering someone affected by cancer. "They just won't know it."

To register a team for ECC's Relay For Life, walk in the survivors' lap or learn about event volunteer opportunities, contact Amybeth Maurer, director of orientation and student life at (847) 214-7423 or visit acsevents.org/relay/il/ecc.