Ravenna – Ravenna Stadium was the site of this year’s Relay for Life event to benefit the American Cancer Society…which is to say, benefits us all.Groups from all over Portage County were in evidence : the BOMB (Bunch O’ Mighty Believers) of the Garrettsville UMC, Suffield UCC, Ravenna GE Lamp Plant, Destiny’s Fighters, Cousins for a Cure, Fortis College Honor Society, Streetsboro BSA, many more, all determined to do as the Society urges–Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back.This year’s theme connected with Disney productions which allowed for lots of imagination in group displays. Aladdin appeared, as did Pirates of the Caribbean, the Beast…you get the idea. Among the most poignant sights…symbolizing very personal interest… were Team Lori, the numerous purple shirts with “I am living proof” emblazoned on the back, and a lone young man running in a white T-shirt which said, “Runnin’ 4 Dad”. Survivors? One must hope so.One might also be admonished by the various Society signs all around the track urging smokers to quit, couch potatoes to get moving, reminders of the new drugs available, note to everyone to get health check-ups, personal responsibility for combatting the cancer enemy on all fronts. The purpose was serious but there was fun to be had in getting bailed out of the Cancer County Jail or taking the Survivors Lap or wearing pink-and-white camo shirts or cerise fishnet hose or figuring out the “Nose picker” which was a green papier-mache plaque that looked like…,well, what do you think it looked like? Activities went on all day and all night, as each team kept at least one walker on the track at all times…through the music…as Orbit (Akron Aeros mascot) visited…during the lumenaria ceremony…the dancing…good times to propel us all through the hard times …to the cure.Mark it on your calendar for next year. More participation, more promise, more hope.
