One step at a time, Highlands, Oakmont Relays for Life walk to fund cancer research

The goal of the Relays for Life throughout the country is that one day they won’t be necessary.

That would mean that cancer is cured and there’s no reason to walk around school tracks and in parks to raise money each summer for the American Cancer Society.

Until then, they march on.

Step by step, donations are collected, and each year the amount raised adds up. Advances in cancer research keep happening, and treatments improve.

They walk so people like James R. McGuire could still be alive. McGuire of West Leechburg was 69 when he died of cancer March 5, 2016.

Each year since his death, his granddaughter, Ashley Kendall, has organized the “Pappy Strong” team at the Highlands Relay for Life in Harrison.

“I love doing Relay for Life to honor those who are survivors, those who have not survived and just love doing this,” Kendall said.

The Ramtastic Relayers were another team at the Highlands Relay, held Saturday. Members are Highlands students and alumni who walk for family members who have died or have been impacted by cancer.

“We’re really here to give back for them,” said Erik Frantz, 19, of Harrison.

He just completed his freshman year at Penn State University and lost his grandmother to cancer in February.

“I want there to be a cure so that nobody has to suffer like my grandmother did and nobody has to watch that happen again,” Frantz said.

His teammate, Marissa Callender, 18, of Harrison agreed.

“I think it shows that there is a hope for the future. And that the youths are going to make a big change and a big impact on the world,” Callender said.

She hopes to become a pediatric oncologist and help children with cancer.

It’s the 17th year of the Highlands Relay for Life, said one of its organizers, Jim Larko.

Larko, 53, of Harrison said there were 13 teams registered this year. A car cruise was added to attract people who wouldn’t normally participate in the event, and it’s been popular.

The Highlands event topped the $1 million mark in 2015 and has raised as much as $100,000 each year, although donations have been down to about $60,000 in recent years, Larko said.

“Someday we hope we don’t have to do this anymore because we have a cure for cancer,” he said.

Relay in Oakmont draws a crowd

Another Relay for Life event was held Saturday in Oakmont, where cancer survivors soaked in the sunshine as they and hundreds more flocked to Riverside Park for the 19th annual Relay for Life there.

“We were very fortunate,” said organizer Nancy “Moochie” Donatucci, a 12-year, stage 3 cancer survivor. “Gorgeous day; we appreciate all the support. I think it’s been a good turnout today. They seem happy. I feel like it’s going to be a successful day for us.”

About 24 teams participated in the event from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. including newcomers Team M&M. It was led by Karen Sanguigni, 58, of McCandless. She survived a battle with uterine cancer last year.

The team’s named after Matt Sanguigni, 49 of Oakmont and his stepmother, Mary Sanguigni of Cranberry. The former defeated colon cancer two years ago. Mary succumbed to uterine cancer June 2017 after a five-year battle. Mary is Karen’s mother-in-law. She was 73.

“We wanted everybody in our family to remember our mother, Mary, and to honor Matt,” Karen Sanguigni said. “We’re raising a lot of money. That was kind of secondary for us to the remembering part and did something in her honor. Mary was a great woman. She was generous and kind — tried hard to include everybody and bring our family together.”

Other survivors shared their stories at the beginning of the event.

Kathy Garrison, 73, of Bethel Park was joined by her daughter, Kristin Smihal, 47, of Shippensburg. Smihal is a 13-year cervical cancer survivor. Garrison defeated triple-negative breast cancer in 1989. Triple negative means the three most common types of receptors known to fuel most breast cancer growth are not present in the cancer tumor.

“When you’re sick, it’s a full-time job,” Smihal said. “You’re at the hospital every day in that sterile, clinical environment.”

Garrison helped start multiple support groups after beating cancer and founded K&J’s Complete Woman in 1990. It’s a specialty boutique in Monroeville and McMurray that offers medical equipment, wigs, mastectomy products and maternity items.

“We’ve met the strongest, most inspiring women,” Smihal said of the business. “They come in and they’re battered and they’re bruised, but they’re never broken and their spirit inspires us every day. We’ve made lifelong friends.”

Fundraising tallies were not available. Donatucci said she believes they will be able to hit the $70,000 mark or more in fundraising.