6 2014 RELAY FOR LIFE MAGAZINE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com July 28, 2014
it would eventually come to her as
well. However, Bottrell was much
younger than she had ever thought
she would be when cancer came.
She had hopes that like her mother
and grandmother, she would
have surgery and chemotherapy
and be better, but, unfortunately,
it would not be that simple for
Nicole. Her cancer is referred to as
inflammatory breast cancer, which
quickly spread throughout her
body.
She spoke about the family that
surrounded her, and her mother
who was with her when she
heard the worst of her news. She
ended her biography saying, “My
cancer will never be gone, but it is
stabilized. I must get chemo every
three weeks for life, but it won’t
make me sick. This (cancer) is
a lifelong battle for me, but with
my support systems I can endure
everything. Cancer can’t keep this
girl down.”
Guzzardo then called for
the Survivor’s Lap. All the
participating cancer survivors
gathered under the red, white, and
blue American Cancer Society
Archway. While Lesleigh Bennett
sang a moving rendition of “I hope
you dance” the survivors made
their way around the track with all
those on the sidelines clapping and
cheering. Bennett also sang “Go
light your world.”
The second lap of the night was
the Caregiver Lap. In this lap the
caregivers who have stood beside
the loved ones and helped them
through their bad and good days
walked a lap with their survivors.
As they made their lap Sheralyn
Bolton sang, “I’ll stand by you.”
Bolton also sang Bruno Mars’
“Count on me.”
For the third lap Guzzardo said
he was going to take the liberty
of changing the rules a little. The
lap was designated for children
ages 10 and under, but Guzzardo
wanted everyone 16 and under.
He called out the Railer Man, the
LCHS youth team, and all the
kids in the audience. As the young
people gathered and made their
lap around the track, Lauren Hill
sang “Everyone is beautiful” and
“Happy.”
When the young people had
finished, Guzzardo called for all
Relay teams to start the Team Lap.
As he called off the names, teams
took their spot under the arch and
began their lap.
When all the special laps were
completed, Guzzardo called for
everyone to come together and
take the ‘everyone’ lap while
Jennifer Keith ready the Fight Back
statement.
For the rest of the night there
would be team members circling
the track. There would also be
special events going on such as
a live auction conducted by local
auctioneer Mike Maske. There
would be a silent auction, dancing,
games, and much more.
Guzzardo also announced that
beginning around 7:30 p.m. pizza
deliveries would be coming to the
Relay. He said the local pizzerias
including Sorrento’s, Dominos,
Stuffed Aria, and Guzzardo’s
would be donating pizza’s to
be sold with 100 percent of the
proceeds going to Relay for Life.
After dark in the glow of the
luminary bags, Bill Post would
carefully read off the names of
those being remembered by a
luminary and those who placed
their name on the bag.
When day began to break, the
group would then celebrate with
a morning donut and coffee lap,
the launching of the balloons and
a prayer of hope for a cancer free
future for everyone.
