Keenites joined other Johnson County residents June 8-9 to take a stand against cancer at the 10-year anniversary of the Relay for Life at the Cleburne High School running track.
Relay, which supports the American Cancer Society’s effort to raise funds to find a cure for cancer, had a theme this year of “Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back.”
Among Keene residents wearing the purple shirts that identify survivors were Celia Rodney, Stephanie Peace and Kari Jonsson.
Relay for Life is a 12-hour program to raise money for cancer. It starts in the evening and continues until daybreak. Teams campout overnight and take turns walking around the track to raise money and awareness for the fight against cancer. There were
A Relay team from Keene included, from left, Stephanie Peace, David Crane, Matthew Williams, Leah Williams, Michael Jonsson, and Kari Jonsson holding Titus Jonsson. In front are Jack Williams and Emma Belle Jonsson. Stephanie is cancer survivor for four years. Kari is a cancer survivor for 23 years. She contracted Wilms tumor at age 3, had right her kidney removed, followed by four months of chemotherapy. She graduated from Chisholm Trail Academy in 2006. (Paul Gnadt)
674 participants, 42 teams and $67,061 raised. 
The three teams that raised the most money were “Cowboy Up to Cure Cancer” from Cleburne with $14,140, “School of Hope” from Alvarado with $9,525 and “Pink Cataracts” from Cleburne with $3,770.  Participants that individually raised the most money were Jeaniv Johnson with $1,770, Carolyn Smith with $1,000 and Albert Gomez with $772.
The ACS has a creed for those who participate in Relay. People who sign up agree they “want to make a meaningful difference in the fight against cancer.”
“Almost everyone has been touched by cancer,” said Dr. Gordy Klatt, founder of Relay for Life, “either through their own
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personal battle or through someone they love. Every day, the American Cancer Society is helping people stay well by preventing cancer or finding it at its earliest, most treatable stages. They assist families in finding the best resources to help deal with a diagnosis and their journey to get well.”
Teams camp out around the track for the duration of the event.  Most people bring items to sell, such as food, water, homemade jewelry and more. Leading up to the walk were events such as beauty contests, concerts and an opening ceremony.
Those who walk do so in support of someone they know who had cancer or is fighting cancer.  The cancer survivors started the walk around 7:30 p.m. They were all wearing purple T-shirts.
When the sun goes down at Relay, that doesn’t mean that the lights go out. People continue to walk through the night.  Luminaria’s are placed around the track in honor of those who have died from cancer. They are little paper bags with a candle inside of them. 
Rodney was diagnosed with breast cancer Thanksgivig Day 2011.
“I found a lump,” she said. “It was removed and I have two more surgeries scheduled for June 29. I used to attend these supporting my sister, Cindy Shirley, and now I am here as a survivor.”
Rodney, who works for Putnam Service, manages her cancer with oral medication but must have checkups every six weeks, she said.
Jonsson, a 2006 graduate of Chisholm Trail Academy, was diagnosed with Wilms tumor at age 3. Wilms’ tumor or nephroblastoma is cancer of the kidneys that typically occurs in children, rarely in adults. It is named after Dr. Max Wilms, the German surgeon who first described this kind of tumor.
“I had my right kidney removed and had chemotherapy for four months,” Jonsson said. “I’ve been cancer free for 23 years.”
Peace has been cancer free for four years, she said.

Makala Coleman is a sophomore communication major at Southwestern Adventist University. She can be contacted at keenestar@thestargroup.com.