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Cancer survivors and their loved ones walk a lap around the track during Celina Middle School's 21st annual Mini Relay for Life on Wednesday morning.
CELINA - Students on both sides of Holly Street whooped it up as a procession of cancer fighters and survivors paraded down the road on Wednesday morning.
From inside their cars, paraders waved back to the cheering children. Many of the teens hoisted colorful signs with uplifting messages such as "CMS Walks For You," "Stay Strong," and "Keep Fighting."
Students and staff were out in droves for the survival parade kicking off the annual mini relay for life, the culmination of Celina Middle School's fundraising campaign for the American Cancer Society and a stirring tribute to those engaged in the battle of their lives.
Students line Holly Street as they wait for the Survivor Parade to begin.
Bill Nietfeld waves to the crowd during Celina Middle School's Survivor Parade.
This year alone, 1.95 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed and 610,000 people will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. The startling statistics illustrate how cancer touches the lives of nearly every American, whether directly or by way of family, friends, classmates or coworkers.
The middle school's mini relay for life, though, has made a difference. Since launching over 20 years ago, the relay has generated nearly $300,000 for cancer research. Each year students aim to collect $10,000 in donations.
"We are so proud of our students' volunteer efforts," said middle school staff in a statement to the newspaper. "In addition, we believe that our students' community contribution will make a difference in the lives of others, and this event allows our students to see the positive, emotional impact it has on our community's cancer fighters and survivors."
Jackie Mertz, who taught eighth-grade language arts at the middle school, also applauded the children, saying their advocacy makes a world of difference to cancer survivors such as herself.
Mertz addressed students, staff and cancer survivors at the track during the survivor lap ceremony on Wednesday morning.
"It is your hard work and dedication that brings us hope, and I want you to know, eighth graders and seventh graders, that that hope is for our future," she said. "There's researchers that are out there that are working on a cure for cancer and working on medications to help you live a longer life, and that's why we're working, that's why you worked to earn money to give to those researchers."
A group of girls laugh as they easily defeat a group of boys during tug-of-war.
Mertz said she was struck with many emotions and feelings looking out at the audience.
"For me, I'm overwhelmed with the memories of faces that I see here at the relay, some of you that I high-five because we made it another year," she said.
The absence of others, including former middle school principal Ann Esselstein who died in March 2020 after a three-year battle with cancer, also weighed on Mertz's heart
"I'm not sure if you realize this but the statistics are up for cancer, that one in two people will have cancer in their lifetime," she said. "You look at the person beside you and technically think, one of you will have cancer sometime in your life."
The cancer survivors assembled, Mertz told the children, are true warriors each with a story to tell.
"Their fear is deep, their scars are evident, but they have strength that can only come from facing life's greatest challenge head one," she said. "Cancer has changed their lives but it's not diminished the spirit and the ability to hope."
Mertz said she's proud to say she won her battle with cancer but knows the struggle is never truly over as each yearly scan and doctor's appointment could signal the disease's return.
The worry never ends for cancer survivors.
"It humbles us," she said. "It makes us appreciate life's precious moments and reminds us to take time to enjoy the sunrise and the sunset."
Celina eighth grader Brinley Korte gets revenge on a water balloon thrower by launching one of her own.
Students lighlty toss an egg to their partner during an egg toss competition.
A diagnosis of breast cancer came to Mertz, a mother of three, when she was 33. She said she tried to put on a brave face for family and friends but inside was terrified, the possibility of death her constant companion.
But through the rock-solid support of her family and extensive treatment involving weeks of chemotherapy and radiation, Mertz emerged through the darkness and vowed to help others enduring the scourge of cancer.
"It was during this time that I became involved with the American Cancer Society through the relay for life," she said. "I understood the impact funding had on the development of my chemotherapy drug and I wanted to do more to support this and I co-led the relay for a couple of years."
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life movement is the world's largest peer-to-peer fundraising event dedicated to saving lives from cancer, according to the organization. Funds support breakthrough research, around-the-clock support for cancer patients and access to lifesaving screenings.
Mertz said little did she know that shortly after that the middle school would debut its own mini relay for life.
"Each and everyone of you have the opportunity to do something like this to make a difference or a change in this world," she told the children.
Zayden Rodriguez concentrates as he catches an egg during an egg toss competition.
Austin Welling, Logan Kerns and James Miracle attempt to dodge water balloons as students launch them.
The event helped support the school's yearly contribution goal of $10,000 to The American Cancer Society.
