Relay for Life 2020

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SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 PAGE 1B

CHILTON COUNTY

RELAY FOR LIFE

PAGE 2B

SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020

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Virtual Relay For Life scheduled for May 30

By JOYANNA LOVE Managing Editor

The Chilton County Relay For Life will be a virtual event this year hosted on the Relay For Life of Chilton County, Alabama Facebook Page on May 30 from 5-9 p.m.

“This year, with the COVID-19 pandemic,

the goal is … for ACS to keep all of its volunteers, supporters, committee members, staff, all of that, safe from all of this,” Kalyn Frederick, American Cancer Society community development manager for Chilton County,

said. “They made the decision … to suspend all in-person events through the end of June.”

The Chilton County committee had to either cancel or find an alternate format in which to hold the event.

“I know Relay For Life

is a big thing in Chilton County, so we wanted to make sure we could continue to provide that to all of the community,” Frederick said.

The event will feature a combination of prerecorded and live videos,

including as many of the usual elements of the event as possible.

There will still be entertainment, committee members talking about Relay, honoring survivors and a luminaria ceremony.

Cancer Awareness Calendar The fight against cancer is a year round focus for the American Cancer Society and other organizations.

There are many cancer awareness days and months celebrated throughout the year.

The following calendar provides key cancer awareness dates and sponsoring organization information. It is not an exhaustive or prioritized list and is provided as a resource from the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Day) – March 18 (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids) National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (Colorectal Cancer Alliance) National Nutrition Month (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) April 2020 Coaches vs. Cancer® Final Four – April 3-6

SCHEDULE 5 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance 5:30 p.m. Welcome Video 5:45 p.m. Dancing Lap 6 p.m. Mission Moment 6:30 p.m. Survivor Lap/ Moment 6:45 p.m. Luminaria Reminder 7 p.m. “Why I Relay” 7:15 p.m. Entertainment 7:45 p.m. Thank you to our Sponsors 8 p.m. Luminaria Ceremony

vivors Day Foundation) National Minority Health Month (Nation- Men’s Health Month January 2020 al Institute on Minority (Men’s Health NetHealth and Health Dis- work) Release of ACS Can- parities) cer Facts & Figures July 2020 2020 – January 8 National Cancer Control Month (Presidential UV Safety Month Coaches vs. Cancer® Proclamation) (American Academy of Suits And Sneakers™ Ophthalmology) Week – January 20-26 May 2020 August 2020 Cervical Health Melanoma Monday Awareness Month (Na- – May 4 (American National Immunizational Cervical Cancer Academy of Dermatol- tion Awareness Month Coalition) ogy) (Centers for Disease Control and PrevenFebruary 2020 National Women’s tion) Health Week – May 10Super Bowl LIV/Cru- 16 (Office on Women’s September 2020 cial Catch Partnership – Health) February 2 (NFL) National Prostate Don’t Fry Day – May Cancer Awareness World Cancer Day – 22 (National Council Month (ZERO — The February 4 (Union for on Skin Cancer Preven- End of Prostate Cancer) International Cancer tion) Control) Childhood CanWorld No Tobacco cer Awareness Month National Cancer Pre- Day – May 31 (World (American Childhood vention Month (Ameri- Health Organization) Cancer Organization) can Institute for Cancer Research) National Cancer Re- Ovarian Cancer search Month (Ameri- Awareness Month (NaMarch 2020 can Association for tional Ovarian Cancer International HPV Cancer Research) Coalition) Awareness Day – March 4 (International Skin Cancer Prevention Gynecologic CanPapilloma Society) Month (American Acad- cer Awareness Month emy of Dermatology) (Foundation for WomInternational Women’s Cancer) en’s Day – March 8 June 2020 Blood Cancer AwareTake Down Tobacco National Cancer Sur- ness Month (The LeuNational Day of Action vivors Day – June 7 kemia & Lymphoma (formerly Kick Butts (National Cancer Sur- Society)

October 2020 National Mammography Day – October 16 National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (Presidential Proclamation) Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Events November 2020 Great American Smokeout – November 19 Lung Cancer Awareness Month (GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer previously Lung Cancer Alliance) Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network) National Family Caregivers Month (Caregiver Action Network) December 2020 Giving Tuesday December 1

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Cancer Screen Week – December 7-11 (ACS Partnership) *NOTE: Release dates subject to change

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Meet Relay for Life Committee member Shelly Byrne

By Elisabeth AltamiranoSmith Freelance writer

Cancer is a negative word. People refer to it as “the ‘C’ word” or may avoid talking about it all together. The number of those diagnosed with cancer is expected to continue to increase.

The National Cancer Institute estimates 1.8 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States alone during 2020. With more individuals being affected and feeling vulnerable, there is a great need, now more than ever, to have a knowledgeable, caring community for support.

Relay for Life is a cornerstone program for many fighting the battle with cancer. Relay for Life offers support, people to talk with, resources and reassurance.

Shelly Byrne, Luminaria chairperson for Chilton County Relay for Life enjoys connecting with others and inspiring hope through the organization.

Byrne, formerly of Islamorada Key, Florida, was brought up in a military family and has lived in various cities around the United States. In 2000, she and her son, Dylan moved to Chilton County to live near

friends.

“Up until then, I had never heard of Relay for Life,” Byrne said. “It is so successful here because Chilton County is a small, close-knit community. People hear about it and want to help.”

Byrne was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2015. She was without evidence of disease for two years and re-diagnosed in 2018. She currently is receiving treatments.

“I want to educate people about all of the cancers and their symptoms,” said Byrne. “After breast cancer, colon cancer is the next largest killer. Knowing the symptoms and early detection saves lives.”

Byrne feels empowered through Relay for Life and her own life experiences to teach others about colon symptoms, especially blood or strange and narrow bowel movements.

As luminaria chair, Byrne is a part of coordinating how the local Relay for Life honors every life touched by cancer. Each luminaria can be dedicated to honor or remember a loved one, or someone currently battling cancer.

Usually at Relay, luminarias are decorated with

our event will be held online on Facebook, but we are going to make sure that all of the people on the luminarias are honored and remembered,” Byrne said. “Names will be read aloud during the online event and will be visible on the screen.”

Luminarias are sold for $5 each in person or $10 online. The money received goes to aid the American Cancer Society in research, patient support, prevention information and education as well as detection and treatment.

Byrne said the pandemic has also made fundraising this year more challenging but that many local stores in Chilton County have been supportive and placed coin banks on their counter.

“I love this community,” said Byrne. “Relay helps bring them all together. We are stronger together.”

In addition to, volunteering for Relay for Life, Byrne enjoys spending time with her friends, thrift-store shopping, crocheting and attending church in Survivor Shelly Byrne 1 in 25 women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer. her spare time.

(1 in 23 men).

To purchase a luminarnames and sometimes This year, Byrne said that ferently due to the CO- ia contact, Shell at 205messages to the people the luminaria program VID-19 pandemic.

467-4502. To donate, visthey are dedicated to. will be celebrated dif“Because of the virus, it relayforlife.org/chilton.

Meet community manager Kalyn Frederick

By JOYANNA LOVE Managing Editor

This year, the Chilton County Relay For Life has a new coordinator — Kalyn Frederick.

Frederick has worked with the local committee through the many challenges this year has thrown at them to be able to make the event a success.

Coming to work for the American Cancer Society was the answer to Frederick’s long search for a fulfilling job where she would be helping others.

“I have always really been interested in being involved with people and helping people, but I wasn’t really sure what that would look like for me,” Frederick said.

After completing her bachelor’s degree in social work, Frederick did not want to go back to college. However, she said a higher-level degree is really needed to work in the social work field.

Fredrick landed a job

ed by it, and to be able to be kind of the face in my community for representing that and getting to represent all these people who have fought so hard in their lives meant tremendous things to me.”

Frederick saw the position as a way to be a part of keeping other families from having to go through what her family did with the loss of her grandfathers. When she was 8, one of her grandfathers died from colon cancer which spread to his liver.

“In 2016, my granddaddy passed away from pancreatic cancer,” Frederick said.

“That was really hard …

Everything moved really fast, it was really having to pause my life for a couple of weeks, go down there …

My mom and granny were just too upset and shaken by all of it to help him do everything.”

Frederick said she helped care for him, waking up in the middle of the night to give him medicine.

in property management and worked there for three years. The job became the same thing every day, and Frederick wanted a change. This led her to a software job.

When she saw an opportunity to be a commu-

nity development manager for the American Cancer Society, she saw it as a good fit.

“I thought, ‘Man, that would be great,” Frederick said. “I’ve been affected by it, so many people have been affect-

RealtySouth-

VHS Relay for Life

Chilton WEBC# GoldTogether Pillow Fight for a CURE NEM Queens

Thorsby Swedish

Jemison Intermediate School Hatley Health Care Foley Products Company First Assembly’s Cancer Crusaders

Clanton Cowboys Youth Football League Chilton County YMCA Queens

Internal Medicine South- Dr. Jani Stokes Automotive Wadsworth Oil (The Store)

Martin Funeral Home Hatley Health Care Neighborhood Grill

TEAMS Fest Queens Pleasant Grove Baptist #1 Miss Chilton County Queens

BlackBerry Queens

SPONSORS Town of Maplesville Senior Connection

(Presenting Sponsor) Pates Chapel Baptist Church

Parnell, Inc. Mutual Savings Credit Union

She started in August 2019.

“My manager and I connected really well when we got together, and we were just really on the same page with a lot of things,” Frederick said. “It was really just a great fit I think.”

She coordinates ACS events for Lee, Russell and Chilton counties as well as Auburn University.

“I try to plan and engage events in the community to really raise awareness,” Frederick said.

This includes Relay for Life and Real Men Wear Pink campaigns.

Frederick said she has enjoyed that the job can be something different each day and that she has the opportunity to meet a variety of people and hear their stories.

She enjoys seeing the passion that teams and volunteers have for “such a great event that goes for such a great cause.”

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SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020

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Early detection key to surviving breast cancer

By JOYANNA LOVE Managing Editor

Studies shows that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Sometimes breast cancer is hereditary.

Sometimes it develops from other risk factors.

Dr. Jon Binkerd of Chilton Surgical Associates said suspected risk factors include smoking, weight, taking oral contraceptives, not breast feeding and hormone replacement therapy for menopause.

Men with a family history of breast cancer are also at risk for the disease.

“The thing with breast cancer is the earlier it is detected the better,” Binkerd said.

Having a regular menstrual period at a young age, but starting menopause later FILE than the average age, can also increase risk Dr. Jon Binkerd of Chilton Surgical Associates performed the first breast needle biopsy at St. Vincent’s Chilton. of breast cancer. MediHe said the earlier the is detected, the greater said there are organizacal advances have led hormone production if it to medication to block is feeding cancer cells. stage of cancer when it the chances of the pa- tions that help pay for tient living through it. mammograms, diag“If you have stage nosis and treatment for four cancer, you only those who do not have have about a 5 per- health insurance. The cent chance of living,” local health department Binkerd said. can provide the initial Monthly self-exams exam and mammocan be key to early de- gram. tection. Binkerd said He said patients who the exam should be delay getting a suspidone around the time cious lump checked out of a women’s menstrual can cause themselves period because lumps more stress than if they will be easier to feel. went to a physician.

“No one is going to The longer someone know your body bet- waits, the less a doctor ter than you,” Binkerd can do if it is cancer. said. “A lot of times if Binkerd also said payou can take that re- tients need to be careful sponsibility yourself, when researching their you can save your own symptoms online. life.”

Guidelines recomFear should not keep mend women have someone with concerns their first mammogram from seeing a physi- between ages 40 and cian, even those with- 50. Those who have a out insurance. Binkerd family history of breast

cancer should start having mammograms sooner.

After a baseline exam, Binkerd said women should have a mammogram every one to two years, depending on their situation and the recommendation of their physician.

“About one in 10 will have an abnormality on a mammogram,” Binkerd said. “In that percentage, about 90 percent of those when you do follow up mammography, you do find that those are benign issues.”

Only about 10 percent of those who have an abnormality show up on a mammogram actually have breast cancer.

“There are options that you have now that they didn’t have 20 years ago,” Binkerd said.

One such option is a needle biopsy, which uses an ultrasound to direct where the needle should be inserted into the potentially cancerous tissue. Binkerd said an incision is then made at the site to remove the suspect cells for further testing by radiology.

“Once we have a diagnosis, we start talking about what their options are,” Binkerd said.

Specific markers indicate the best surgery option as well as the best forms of radiation and chemotherapy to remove the cancer.

Tests can also be done to see if the genetic breast cancer indicator, BRCA gene, is present.

Local medical facilities can handle everything from the initial consultation to the complex surgery for removal and treatment.

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PHOTOS FROM LAST YEAR

,2/ !,+ 1&,+0 * (" !&ƛ"/"+ " The American Cancer Society’s mission is to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer. With your help, we support patients and caregivers through every step of their cancer journey.

LODGING

$500 could help provide 10 patients and caregivers with a night of free lodging when they have to travel for cancer treatment.

HELP WITH SIDE EFFECTS

$200 could provide

wigs for three patients in treatment.

SUPPORT

$50 could help provide a breast cancer patient with one-on-one peer support from a breast cancer survivor.

RIDES

$100 could help provide four patients a ride during treatment or to a follow-up appointment.

INFORMATION

$25 could help one person get

free information, support, and access to resources through our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345 or via live chat at cancer.org.

RelayForLife.org | 1.800.227.2345 ©2019 American Cancer Society, Inc. No. 030979 Models used for illustrative purposes only.

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SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020

We Support Relay For Life!

J & A Trucking, LLC.

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