Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 7, 1 July 2013 — ĪHE BATTLE ISN'T OVER UNTIL A CURE IS FOUND [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ĪHE BATTLE ISN'T OVER UNTIL A CURE IS FOUND

Kamehameha Warriors host Relay for Life, a fundraiser to fight cancer

By Francine Murray i I t really hit home - my * * 12-year-old nieee was just diagnosed with eaneer," says Kamehameha Schools alumna Hawley Iona. "She doesn't live here unfortunately. She lives in Nevada and I'm not able to be there to support her." Iona's nieee, Zoe Iona-Schopp, was diagnosed last August with Hodgkin's lymphoma and immediately began chemotherapy, followed by radiation treatments starting just before Christmas. Around the time of the diagnosis, Monte McComber, the new chair of Kamehameha's Relay for Life event and Iona's classmate asked if she would like to participate in the relay, whieh raises funds to help find a cure for cancer. He knew of her role as chief Ananeial officer at OHA and was looking for someone to help with the event's financials. His timing was perfect. "Yes, I ' 11 do it," Iona replied. She told her nieee that she was doing this for her, helping with the Relay for Life event and giving back to the community. "Even though I am not able to be with her during her struggles, participating is my way of being supportive of her and her fight," Iona said. Her nieee is now in remission. On Saturday, Aug. 17 the Relay Warriors will rally together at 6 p.m. at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus for al2-hour Relay for Life event, doing laps around the track and remembering - as well as celebrating -those who lost their battle to cancer and those who continue to fight. "Kamehameha Schools provides

the venue and in-kind donations of chairs, tents and tables and even the manpower to set those up," said McComber. "The alumni provides the volunteer planning. Even though our name reads 'Relay for Life Kamehameha Alumni,' it is a community event. The Kamehameha 'ohana invites everyone in the community to participate." Families, friends, co-workers, classmates, children, cancer doesn't discriminate against age, race, religion, ineome or address. Many people know someone with cancer or have been affected somehow by the terrifying disease. "My grandmother had breast cancer," said McComber. "Friends and classmates have been diagnosed with cancer. This is our sixth year doing Relay for Life, and it has grown to be a very personal cause for me."

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.6 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed, and about 580,000 Americans are proj ected to die of cancer in 20 1 3 . That's almost 1,600 people a day. Cancer is the second most eommon cause of death in the U.S., and one of the main reasons people are so passionate about finding a cure. Among the major ethnic groups in Hawai'i, the mortality rates were the highest among Native Hawaiian men and women, according to Hawai'i: Cancer Fact & Figures 2010.

Relay for Life is global with over 20 countries involved. More than 4 million people in 6,000 eommunities across the United States participate in Relay for Life. Here in Hawai'i, about 29 groups have Relay for Life events. Relay for Life Kamehameha Alumni started in 2008, and so far has raised $595,251 to fight cancer, whieh is very impressive for such a small group. Last year the group had about 600 participants in person, and an additional 400 online. "People that are not able to be present create virtual teams online and fundraise for the cause," McComber said. "For instance the KS-Hawai'i Campus creates a vir-

tual team and participates. We've also had older groups and mainland teams participate virtually." The opening lap is dedicated to cancer survivors. "Relay is really a celebration, and we are celebrating our survivors, because without them we really wouldn't have hope," McComber explained. "They are the most integral part of our relay event and we try to have as many survivors involved as possible. So, when we have our opening ceremony our survivors are the first to take a lap." The student body is very supportive with the band playing and the cheerleaders cheering them on. The second lap is dedicated to the unsung heroes, the caregivers. After that, eaeh team is announced and jumps up and down onto the track making a lot of noise with a lot of fanfare. Witnesses say it is very exciting. "It's not just coming to the event and running around the track," McComber said. "We have live musicians that donate their time. We have activities throughout the evening to keep the momentum up, like Zumba, games and activities. We might dance around the track or have trivia where participants actually run up to the stage with the answer and get a prize. The trivia questions are related to cancer awareness. So, the information is shared sometime throughout the evening." In the past, people who were not registered have gone to the Kamehameha event to eheek it out or buy luminaires, a small white bag they ean decorate and dedicate to individual cancer survivors or people they have lost to cancer. The touching dedication begins at about 11 p.m. when the luminaires are placed around the track, twinkling with candlelight and creating an emotionally charged atmosphere. "Visually it's very beautiful," describes McComber. "Like a lei of people that we loved and still love. The light also reminds us to have hope for those that are still fighting cancer." ■

Relay for Life Kamehameha Alumni WHAĪ: A community event to raise funds and awareness of cancer WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 17, 6 p.m. WHERE: Kamehameha SchoolsKapālama Campus INF0: Register, donate or learn more at www.relayforlife.org and search for "Kamehameha"

BY THE NUMBERS

Among the major ethnic groups in Hawai'i: • Cancer rates in women are highest in Native Hawaiians • Cancer rates in men are highest in Whites • Overall cancer mortality rates are highest in Native Hawaiian men and women • Breast cancer rates are highest among Native Hawaiian women • Lung cancer rates are highest among Native Hawaiian men and women Sou!ce: "Hawai'i: CancerFacts & Figures 2010," online at www. uhcancer center. org/pdf/hcff-pub-20 1 0.pdf Nationwide: • Canceraccounts for 1 in 4 deaths • Cancer is the second leading cause of death • In 2013, 1.6 million new cancercases are expected • In 2013, 580,000 cancer fatalities are expected = almost 1,600 perday Source: American Cancer Society, "Cancer Facts and Figures 2013," online at www.cancer.org

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The Relay for Life is all about people supporting people. - Courtesy photos

Zoe lona-Schopp, left, with dad Barry lona in March, before her cancer diagnosis. The 12-year-old aspiring marine biologist, who lives in Nevada, is now in remission.