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Relay of hope

Young dance students join the Carrollwood Relay For Life fundraiser because a classmate's mother is battling cancer.

By TIM GRANT
Published March 20, 2005

CARROLLWOOD - Cancer has made an impression on students at Mary Jo's Performing Arts Academy.

To them, it's the odd but serious illness that's come down on the mother of one of their classmates.

The grade school students have watched Linda Lins lose her hair and struggle to attend her daughter Delaney's dance recitals when the disease and its treatments left her weak and exhausted.

"They're curious," said Mrs. Lins, 41, who has breast cancer. "They want to see what's under the hat. It's funny because with cancer, adults would be too afraid to ask questions."

Now the girls want to do something to make a difference for Mrs. Lins and others who are battling cancer.

The 8- to 11-year-old dance school students will help raise awareness and money for cancer research by participating in the second annual Carrollwood Relay For Life.

"It makes me sad seeing her in pain," said 10-year-old Jacalyn Martin of Mrs. Lins.

About 30 students and parents will form two teams for the relay, held April 15 to 16 at Lake Park.

Relay For Life is a national event that brings communities together in the fight against cancer. Dozens of teams with 10 to 15 members each camp overnight at high schools, parks and fairgrounds and take turns walking or running around a track or path.

Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the 18- to 24-hour event because cancer never sleeps.

Mrs. Lins says she will celebrate with the two teams from Mary Jo's during the event, although she may not stay long.

Su Warren, who manages the dance company at 2166 W Busch Blvd., said the students and parents will raise at least $100 each to participate. The money goes to the American Cancer Society.

"Cancer touches every family. Everyone has their own reasons," Warren said. "The genesis of this is these kids being touched by this family's experience and wanting to do something to make it better."

Shelly Pirkle of Original Carrollwood is encouraging her 11-year-old daughter Abby to participate to learn important life lessons about charity and teamwork.

"This is a chance for all of them to see the importance of being a part of a team effort to raise money for a very important cause," Mrs. Pirkle said.

Abby's grandfather, the legendary Tampa architect Dean Rowe, died from cancer when she was 2 years old.

Like Abby, some of the girls have lost family members to cancer. Most, however, are learning about the sickness for the first time through this experience.

"I'm actually doing this for Mrs. Linda and also my aunt who passed away from cancer," said Sophia Baldor, 11, a fifth-grader at St. Lawrence Catholic School. "This makes me feel fortunate there's nothing wrong with me."

Mrs. Lins learned of what the students were planning when Warren sent a letter to her in November, seeking permission to form the relay teams in her honor.

"I was taken aback that they would do such a sweet, kind, considerate thing," said Mrs. Lins, who lives in Lutz with her husband and three children. "They're a bunch of really nice girls."

"They've seen me when I lost my hair. I'd show them. Then I'd come in with different wigs and hats. They were never scared of me. They were just curious and open to it."

-Tim Grant can be reached at 813 269-5311 or at grant@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 19, 2005, 08:39:05]