Relay Team Holds “Cancer Never Sleeps” Fundraiser

By Rachel Brandes
Moapa Valley Progress
Submitted Mar. 26, 2008

Karen Alsum of Farmers Insurance has been involved in the Relay for Life for the past five years. With the next annual Relay for Life coming up on Friday, April 25, Alsum got her team together early.

Last year Alsum and members of her team walked all night with no sleep. With a total of 26 miles walked throughout the night the team had a good time supporting a great cause.

This years Relay for Life events will begin with the Survivor Dinner sponsored by Alsum Insurance. This dinner is for all survivors, family members and caregivers. If you plan on attending the Survivor Dinner, please RSVP to Karen Alsum by calling either 398-3535 or 397-8282.

At 6:30 p.m. the opening ceremony will take place and the Survivor lap will begin at 7:00 p.m. The event will conclude at 7:00 a.m. the following day. A total of twelve hours walking time during this event will be walked by members of each team, with someone from each team on the track at all times.

Alsum Insurance will have a single group of team members on the track all night again this year. Alsum came up with this “crazy” idea last year. “I wanted to do something a little different” explained Alsum. And that she did! In an effort to raise funds for the American Cancer Society as well as show her support for the victims of the disease Alsum has agreed to walked the track for the full twelve hours again this year. This is meant to represent the exhausting struggle that a cancer patient goes through while undergoing treatment.

During the twelve hours of walking, Alsum and her team will be able to look at the light and darkness of the day and night as a parallel to the physical efforts, emotions, and mental state of a cancer patient while undergoing treatment. As the sun is setting it will symbolize being diagnosed with cancer, as it gets darker, it will represent the state of mind of a cancer patient that life is coming to an end. The evening will get cooler and darker just as the emotions of a cancer patient might. By 5:00 a.m., though tired and weak, there will be hope to make it. As the sun rises, this will represent the end of treatment and the morning light will bring a new day full of hope.

Alsum and her team hope to raise awareness and enjoy each others company in the process. Everyone is encouraged and welcome to join the team on the track in the wee hours of the night.

This is the 6th annual Relay for Life in Moapa Valley. All proceeds from the event will benefit the American Cancer Society.