STILL FIGHTING: Lincoln County Relay for Life raises over $70k
Published 12:27 pm Thursday, June 13, 2019
Photo by Abigail Whitehouse Sharon Woods, the keynote speaker for the Relay for Life Friday night, vows to keep fighting her diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
Photo by Abigail Whitehouse Kathy Tillett celebrates 25 months of being cancer-free during Friday night's Relay For Life event.
Photo by Abigail Whitehouse Donya Saylor grabs a hug from Carol Sims as she makes her lap as a survivor Friday night.
Photo by Abigail Whitehouse Marty Robbins and his family celebrate eight years cancer-free as they make their way around the room during Friday night's Relay for Life event.
Photo by Abigail Whitehouse Cancer survivors and victims share the diagnosis they received from doctors before flipping their signs over to show how many years they have been cancer-free.
Photo by Abigail Whitehouse Cancer survivors make their way around the Commercial Building at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds Friday night during the annual Relay for Life event.
Photo by Abigail Whitehouse Trena Carrier celebrates after winning one of the cake walk competitions Friday night during the Relay for Life Event.
Photo by Abigail Whitehouse Audrey Foster donates 11 inches of hair during the annual Relay for Life Event Friday night. Foster was one of several to donate hair to the Children With Hair Loss (CWHL) organization.
Photo by Abigail Whitehouse Sharon Woods tells the Relay for Life crowd about her two-month battle with ovarian cancer, a disease which she vows to continue fighting.
Photo by Abigail Whitehouse Donya Saylor reads the names of cancer survivors before the group makes their lap during the annual Relay for Life fundraiser Friday.
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STANFORD – Sharon Woods hadn’t been feeling well for about a month or so by the time she went to the doctor in March. By April, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and admitted to the Markey Cancer Center in Lexington.
Holding a sign that said, “still fighting” Woods made her way around the Relay for Life track last Friday in Lincoln County before sharing her story with the crowd.
“I am a two-month survivor of ovarian cancer,” Woods said.
During those two months, Woods visited multiple hospitals and doctors.
“I was sent to several different places,” she said. “I was very glad to get back to (Ephraim McDowell) Fort Logan (Hospital) because I used to work there and those are my friends. I’ve been really supported by my church family, Stanford Christian Church, and the (Stanford) Lions Club, and all of you all that are out here, because I see a lot of familiar faces. I appreciate all of the prayers.”
On May 1, Woods was discharged from the hospital. As of last week, she had undergone three chemotherapy treatments.
“I did have a reaction to one of the chemo’s,” she said. “I had to be taken off of that and we’re going to start a different type of chemo in my next visit, if I have to have it.”
Woods said she has been relying on God and all of the prayers that have poured in since her diagnosis.
“I really appreciate it and I just want to say ‘thanks’ and I’m glad that I’m able to be out here with everybody. I love the community…,” she said.
Woods’ story resonated with many of those who gathered at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds Friday night for the 22nd annual Relay For Life event.
While the event was moved inside due to rain, it did not dampen the turnout as teams lined the walls of the Commercial Building to raise money to help find a cure for cancer.
Event leader Donya Saylor spent several minutes thanking sponsors, volunteers, committee members and participants for making the 22nd Relay for Life event such a success. The theme for this year’s event was “Dr Seuss: no cancer here, no cancer there, no cancer anywhere.”
In total, the event raised $70,277.53 as teams sold baked goods and participated in various games including a cake walk. Several locals also lined up to donate hair to the Children With Hair Loss organization, including Rebecca Mason, Hannah Smith, Bae Bae Smith, Kendra Meade and Audrey Foster, who all donated eight or more inches of hair to the cause.
