Local Relay for Life chairwomen share hope for a cure
Local Relay for Life chairwomen share hope for a cure
By: Carin Enovijas, Tehachapi News Editor
Description: Co-chairs Tracy Lankin and Marilyn Wells
Topics: realy for life, cancer
Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
Viewed 730 times
0 responses 0 comments Graduation, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, and the 4th of July are all important events that are just around the corner and a handy excuse to put off getting involved in Tehachapi’s Relay for Life, scheduled for July 14 and 15.
Reprising their role as co-chairs for the second year, Tracy Lankin and Marilyn Wells, hope these are exactly the kinds of landmark life events that will inspire people to get involved — and get educated — about the importance of early cancer detection, the key to survival and moving forward to share more years of special memories with loved ones.
“For me, Relay is all about educating our community about what the American Cancer Society [ACS] can do for us,” she said, emphasizing the need to find a cure, but also the importance of education and prevention.
Lankin, a surgical nurse at Tehachapi Hospital for the past 10 years, first became involved with ACS and Relay for Life through her father’s oncologist, crediting her family’s early Relay experience with “starting the healing process” after she lost her father to colorectal cancer in 2002.
“If he had the appropriate prescreening measures he would be alive today,” said Lankin.
Marilyn Wells, a retired Cummings Valley School teacher, also lost her father to cancer. But her involvement with the ACS and Relay began as a survivor.
“While I was in treatment, the nurses at the Florence Wheeler Center were getting excited as they prepared for their [Bakersfield] event and they encouraged me to walk the survivor lap,” she said. “I got enthused about having a local here in Tehachapi.”
After two years as chairwoman of the survivor’s committee, she stepped up to event co-chair, joining Lankin on the hometown fight for a worldwide cause.
Currently, this dynamic duo are preparing for the event kick-off, scheduled for May 19 at Railroad park from noon to 3 p.m.
“Paint Our Town Purple” will get under way with purple ribbons adorning the downtown area. The event will feature entertainment, prizes, a luminaria ceremony as well as an inspirational survivor speaker. Registration will also be open for survivors, individuals and teams.
“I’m just passionate about it,” Lankin, a full-time nurse, wife and mother of two, said of her personal motivation for doing all that she does for her community. “It’s personal. My dad was such an awesome human being and it’s so sad he was taken so early from me.”
She credits the ACS for their research and legislative work making it possible for insurance to cover prescreenings, such as mammograms, pap smears and colonoscopies.
“I can say that my dad saved my life,” said Lankin, who now gets tested regularly after a benign polyp was found and eradicated as a result of her first test.
Lanking believes education can help prevent others from waiting until it’s too late.
“We can still be scared [of cancer] but we now know statistics,” she explained further, “A polyp in the colon can turn cancerous in five years. If you waited a year to get tested it’s still better than the prognosis in five years. Same thing with a pap smear.”
Wells said the ACS was also an enormous support for her during her own treatment, even helping her to qualify for mileage and other expenses related to cancer research.
“One thing that’s very important is that ACS needs your support, donations and backing, but a lot of that comes back to the community,” said Wells.
She believes preventive education and nutrition are especially important in schools.
“It’s especially important for kids to learn the importance of listening to your body for the signs of a healthy life,” she said, noting that quite a few local youth groups both contribute and benefit from their participation in Relay, and that all ages are welcome to volunteer.
“We just want people to come and enjoy the event and have a rewarding experience,” said Wells.
Come help ‘Paint Our Town Purple’
What: Tehachapi’s Relay for Life kick off event, featuring survivor, individual and team registration, entertainment, speakers and more!
When: May 19, from noon to 3 p.m.
Where: Tehachapi’s Railroad Park on Tehachapi Boulevard
Some facts about last year’s event
Total funds raised: $144,835.34
Total number of teams: 53
Total number of committee members: 23
Total number of registered survivors: 215
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