Community celebrates cancer survivors, honors lost loved ones

From the Saturday, June, 14, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Community celebrates cancer survivors, honors lost loved ones
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

JOHNSBURG - Five-year-old Mercedes Wega lost her battle with leukemia several weeks ago.

Her mother, Jody, said she wouldn't be able to make it through this tough time without the encouragement of the local cancer-support community.

Friday night, that community widened to about 700 who flooded Albert A. Adams Park in Johnsburg at the annual Relay for Life of North McHenry County.

The event kicked off with a tribute to Mercedes: Eight different colored balloons were released in Mercedes' name, each representing a different characteristic of the young girl's personality.

Wega, of Woodstock, tearfully released the final balloon - a white balloon, representing purity.

"It's rough," Wega said. "I can't tell you that it's not. But this is where she would have wanted me to be."

The event kicked off at 6 p.m. and was scheduled to continue for 12 hours, until this morning.

More than $40,000 was raised for the American Cancer Society.

For Debbie Hansen, a breast-cancer survivor, the event was a chance to reflect and celebrate life.

"I think it's really important to remind us that we're survivors," Hansen said.

Hansen, 50, also attended the Relay for Life in Crystal Lake last weekend.

She was joined by her friend Sue Bailey, who recently completed her treatment for multiple myeloma.

For others, the event was a chance to express solidarity with those suffering from cancer or whose family members have the disease.

"It's a great way to give back to the community," said Lindsey Ahrens, McHenry West High School's student council parliamentarian. "We all know at least one person in our life who has had cancer."

Event attendants kept busy throughout the night by participating in a number of other activities, including Jazzercise, a silent auction and a pizza party.