Approximately 1,200 participants gathered on the North Whidbey Middle School Track to participate in the 2009 North Whidbey Relay for Life, June 5-6.

As part of the American Cancer Society (ACS) Relay for Life program, the event raises funds for cancer research and promotes awareness. This year’s event was themed “Back to the Future”. The year marks the 25th anniversary of the Relay for Life since it began in Tacoma, Wash.; North Whidbey has participated for 22 of those years.

A total of 102 teams, 14 of which were comprised of Sailors and Marines from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, were arranged in tents around the edges of the track.

As the sun set approximately 1,900 luminaria illuminated the track in memory of, for the fight of, and in celebration of the people who have been lost to, currently have, or have beaten, cancer. Among the traditional white luminaria were also purple ones, which matched the purple t-shirts worn by the cancer survivors present at the event that they represented.

“Each one represents a relationship, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, relatives, friends and neighbors. Every name, every luminaria, as it glows through the night represents our shared vision for a cancer-free future,” said Debbie Brundage, the Luminaria Chair for the event.

Some of the Sailors and their families have fought or are fighting personal battles with the disease.

The son of Air Traffic Controller 1st Class (AW) Justin Tryba, of NAS Whidbey Island Air Traffic Control, Dylan, 4, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia last October.

“We just went through seven months of treatment at Seattle Children’s Hospital, and he just got out of remission five weeks ago,” said Tryba. “This is awesome. I never expected to see this many survivors out here, let alone all the people from the community supporting this cause.”

“I want to thank my chain of command for all the support they’ve given me through this time. We definitely couldn’t have made it through it as well as we did without their support,” added Tryba.

Capt. Mary Neill, Naval Hospital Oak Harbor executive officer, is a survivor of breast cancer. She was diagnosed March 1, 2006 and said she was thankful for the support she got every step of the way through her struggle.

“The fight begins the first day you learn that you have cancer. The fight is not alone. You are not by yourself; the fight is for everyone that’s in your life, your spouse, your children your friends, your entire family,” said Neill. “The fight becomes the fight of people you don’t even know, it’s an amazing experience.”

Neill said the experience strengthened and emboldened her.

“I would never be riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle right now if I never had cancer, because when I was finished and everything was done and they said you’re good to go, girl, I walked into that dealership and I picked out that bike and said ‘I want that one’,” said Neill. “Cancer’s changed my life, made me a better person, made me focus on the things that are right, the things that need my attention, the things that I will work on for people, and that is to do this really every year that I am able.”

Samantha Tanner, wife of Naval Aircrewman 1st Class (AW/SW/NAC) Lance Tanner, of NAS Whidbey Island Search and Rescue (SAR), is a cervical cancer survivor. Tanner has been involved in Relay for Life for three years and this year she decided to step up her support for others involved in these struggles by joining the committee; becoming the Team Development Chair for the 2009 North Whidbey Relay because she believes in what the program is doing.

“We’re here so people are aware that at this point the cure is prevention and early detection and that could save your life. That’s why we’re doing this to make sure the word gets out that you can learn new ways to detect cancer early and to prevent it,” said Tanner.

NHOH also hosted a booth for colon cancer prevention where pledges were taken from individuals 50 and over to get their screening. This was the first time this pledge drive was held and approximately 70 people pledged.

This year’s goal is to raise $195,000 for research and awareness promotion. As of the day of the event $135,897.80 had been raised, but donations are still being accepted until Aug. 31.