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Eleven years ago Juene Von Glinsley learned she was free of breast cancer. Since then, Von Glinsley, a Fairfield resident, has attended the Fairfield Relay for Life. "I come because it is so inspiring, to get everyone here together," said Von Glinsley who was there with other survivors and caregivers that she met at St. Vincent's Hospital. "To be here with fellow survivors and caregivers and support each other is great."
On Saturday she was one of nearly 5,000 people from Fairfield and neighboring communities to attend the 13th annual relay at Fairfield Ludlowe High School. The American Cancer Society event went off smoothly, as rain held off.
Relay for Life is a 24-hour event that brings together cancer survivors, their caregivers, family and friends, as well as others from the community to raise money and awareness. Each team must donate a minimum of $250 to spend the night at the event, and team members trade off so at least one walks around the the track throughout the night. Teams may sell food and other items, with all the money going to Relay for Life. Co-chairwoman Michelle Cole and Stephanie Parker said they expected to raise around $300,000, with 250 teams participating.
Susan Kiley, a Trumbull resident who is a five-year survivor of cancer and now provides yoga instruction free of charge to other survivors at St. Vincent's Hospital, said she attends "to show that we survived and to give people hope."
The relay's honorary chairman, Sheryl Grabiec, a veterinarian technician from Fairfield, was nominated by her daughter Racheal and spoke during the opening ceremony. Grabiec has defeated breast cancer twice.
"Its incredibly emotional to be the honorary chair," she said. "I am humbled and honored to be recognized."
Grabiec told the crowd that "cancer is now a part of who I am. Treatments may end, scars will fade, but cancer will be part of me forever. We relay because we can, we relay because we care, we relay so we can put an end to this terrible disease and one day the phrase 'you have cancer' will be gone forever."
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