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Upbeat, exuberant survivors rally to raise money and spiritsBy ALEX LEARY © St. Petersburg Times, published May 20, 2001
Along the way, these upbeat soldiers in the formidable, but not insurmountable, battle against cancer raised thousands of dollars for research. Three weeks ago, dozens of people walked around the track at Citrus High School for two days, raising $66,000. On Friday and Saturday, for the first time ever, a second Relay For Life was held at Crystal River High School. More than 145 survivors participated, many of whom did not attend the first relay, which attracted 250 survivors. "They are facing the beast in the eye," said Bryn Warner, director of the Pasco-Hernando-Citrus chapter of the American Cancer Society. "Someday hopefully they'll be able to get rid of it," said Jose Masaoy, 67, of Crystal River, who has had both skin and prostate cancer. "Until then, you just try to go on. You can't stop living." A few moments later his Hawaiian band performed for several hundred people. Many remained throughout the night, some walking around the track to raise money, others dancing to music, sharing food and laughter. "Survivors are the bomb, yo!" an exuberant Carol Buckner screamed before introducing a Cher impersonator. When night came, organizers lit candles inside white paper bags aligned on the bleachers to read "HOPE." "It makes my heart fill up," 68-year-old Lecanto resident Vieva Manigualt said of the turnout, which organizers said was surprisingly good for a first year. "It gives me hope that I can continue to go on," said Manigualt, who learned she had breast cancer three years ago, "especially when I hear people have survived for 27 and 37 years."
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