Relay For Life Quakertown Lions
Dear Friends,
Good morning. Quakertown was certainly busy on May’s first weekend. The Relay for Life took center stage as more than 4,000 participated in the annual march against cancer. Last year, the Quakertown area’s chapter for Relay for Life raised about $184,000. Ed Scholl, the event’s co-chairman, told me that the committee expects to exceed $200,000 this year. The team had a spectacular, sunny day.
More in a moment.
But first, I stopped in at the Quakertown National Bank and met Marty Meck and Jim Stoneback of the Quakertown Lions Club. They were running a hoagie sale at the bank’s entrance and predicted that it would probably exceed a $1,200 profit from the one-day event.
“Twenty of
us met at
“Absolutely,” Stoneback replied, “although it would have been quieter without him,” Stoneback laughed. “We need Ron with us.”
Meck gave special praise to Marvin Frederick of Frederick Meats. “Marvin gives the Lions a special discount on the meat,” Meck said. “Marvin’s a member of our club and a big help.”
The pair told me that Quakertown Lions would raise more than $10,000 for local causes in 2007. “This year, we’re adding a second $500 scholarship in the memory of John Edge, a former member,” Meck added.
Bravo, Quakertown Lions. And now, back to the Relay for Life.
Mighty Betsy and I found Mikki Smith, a dear friend and cancer survivor from the region. She brought a group of 10 women whom she called, the “Kancer Kickers from Grandview Hospital.” (Friends, that’s not a typo.) Mikki underwent a breast cancer operation in 2005 and had a reoccurrence last December. She’s perky and looks wonderful.
“I’m doing great,” Mikki laughed, pointing to her two Yorkshire Terriers that she brought along. “I left the two cats at home. I’ll walk until my hip gives out,” Mikki promised. “I don’t look sick…feel sick…or think sick.”
Ed Scholl has helped lead Quakertown’s effort for four years. This Relay was his last although he’ll continue to be involved. He introduced me to Amy Logston, the Pennsylvania Director of Relay for Life, and Kathy Yorks, a Pennsylvania task force member. They had come from Lancaster and Clinton Counties, respectively, to see how this little town does such a big job.
Logston told me that the Relays for Life in America expect to raise $21.5 million this year. “There are 13 divisions nationally,” she said. “We have 218 events planned for 2007. This is one of the best.”
The Quakertown Moose sent 26 to the Relay…all dressed in red T-shirts. “Twenty-six and one half,” quipped Loren Kessler who is nine months pregnant.
“She was due yesterday,” Kessler’s mother, Lou Ann Hahn added. “She might have the baby right here on the stage. We’re overdue!”
“I asked my friends at the
Hundreds of signatures filled a “Wall of Hope” sign. I marveled at the sea of purple T-shirts, which stood for cancer survivors. Scott McElree told the crowd that Relay for Life had purchased 1,500 T-shirts for the event. The Quakertown Borough Manager and Police Chief suggested that the Relay should have ordered twice that number.
Scholl praised the committee’s 25 members. “This year, we have 90 separate teams,” he said proudly.
The walk began as more than 100, dressed in purple T-shirts, marched under the archway of purple and white balloons.
Rob Wonderling and Paul Clymer spoke before the Relay began. Paul has served for more than 27 years in the state Assembly. Wonderling is a State Senator whose district stretches 72 miles from below Lansdale to well above Easton. Wonderling told me that before he became a senator, his job involved selling to customers from Canada to Mexico. “Traveling prepared me very well for this job,” he kidded.
I was particularly moved by April Donahue’s speech. She’s recovering from ovarian cancer, which struck her at age 24. Her talk was filled with hope and promise.
One of the most touching moments came during the opening ceremonies. Fifteen little children from the Living Stone Baptist Church, near Quakertown, signed to the music of “God Bless America.” It was inspirational. The entire day was inspirational.
Sincerely,
Charles Meredith