Relay for Life: Laughter, tears, hugs

Angela Twombly has had skin cancer three times.

Since 2004, she has fought back by taking part in Relay for Life, the annual all-night effort to battle cancer. This year’s Relay will be tonight at Havre High School’s track.

Twombly will speak tonight, one of three cancer survivors who will tell the emotional story of how they learned they had cancer, what they did to fight back and what can be done to help those who are learning now that they have cancer.

Then, as she has done every year since 2004, she and her two sons will take part in the Survivor Lap. They will walk a single lap around the Havre High track with others from the Hi-Line who have fought back from cancer and won. The crowd will cheer them on, and inspirational music will be played.

There are always a variety of emotions during the Relay, she said. But she’s certain of only one thing during the Survivor Lap: “I’ll cry.”

“It will be a happy cry,” she said.

The Survivor Lap is one of the most most emotional parts of the night, she said. The other is when the luminarias that surround the track are lit.

“The Relay for Life is about not being silent,” she said. “It is about making noise. It’s about saying we are going to fight back.”

In the crowd tonight will be people who are recently diagnosed with cancer, those who have survived and those who are or have been caregivers for friends and loved ones.

She hopes a large number of people who don’t have cancer will show up to lend support, she said.

Everyone, she said, has been affected by cancer in some way.

“If you filled the gymnasium at Northern or the auditorium at Havre High and asked people if they know someone who has been affected by cancer, every hand would go up,” she said.

“Everyone has been affected by cancer.”

The intent of the Relay is to raise funds, but it also raises spirits of people who have cancer, she said.

She hopes that people attending tonight will purchase luminarias. They cost $10, or $25 for three.

“My first year at Relay for Life, the track was surrounded by luminarias,” she said. “since then, that hasn’t happened. I think that’s sad.’

But people can buy liminaries if they show up tonight, she said. Crayons and markers will be available if people care to decorate them, she said.

Starting at 5 p.m., there will be a survivors’ barbecue with hamburgers, chips fruits and veggies for $5.

After Event Chair Jenn Thompson welcomes the visitors, Scouts will present the flag and Angela’s son Clayton will recite the opening prayer.

After the Survivor Lap, other activities begin and last through the night.

Among the activities, a series of challenges entitled “Are You Tougher Than a Relayer?” loosely modeled after the Nat Geo television show “Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?”

Throughout the night, Twombly said, people go through a range of emotions.

At around 2 a.m., you often feel like it is dark and you are alone, she said, much like some people with cancer feel dark and alone.

“But then the dawn comes,” she said. “That’s a sign of hope.”

“You’re tired and you want it to end, but you don’t want it to end,” she said.

The closing ceremony starts at 6 a.m., she said. Awards will be handed out.

At 7 a.m., closing time arrives. The sponsoring committee feels exhausted and exhilarated, she said.

“Then you realize you have to clean up.” she said.