One day to go, and then the Pine Bush Relay for Life cancer-fundraiser will be off and running. Forty-five teams have registered for the event that will support cancer survivors and The American Cancer Society. Pine Bush has been working hard in many ways to support the race since May.

Donna Henke, chairperson of the event, was diagnosed with cancer in October of 2007.

"I am a survivor," she says. "I had a double mastectomy and underwent eight weeks of chemotherapy. I have one more surgery to go and then I'm all set."

Henke knows that when first diagnosed, even though the survival rate is so much greater than 20 years ago, people feel frightened. Whether a long-time survivor or just diagnosed, people need support both emotionally and financially.

"My dad had skin cancer and I lost a sister to it," said Henke. "But this is so important, and the Pine Bush community is just wonderful. We have raised $82,000 already, and we really look forward to Saturday. All my sisters will be on my team, which is called, 'Sneakers to Boots.' Our team alone has raised $10,000."

Locations all over the United States are running relays for cancer: Newburgh Relay was last weekend, Goshen is having one on Friday night to Saturday morning, and there are relays planned for Fishkill, areas in Pennsylvania, and so on.

Henke has no time to rest right now as she gets ready for one last committee meeting.

"The tents go up all day Friday; that means 30 to 40 tents for the events. It will be a mini-city," she says. "There will be kids' activities, and my brother-in-law is donating a Lotto Tree which is covered with lottery tickets and will be raffled off."

Anyone who would like to run can go to Crawford Park in Pine Bush on Saturday by 2:30 p.m. to sign up and get a tee-shirt to wear.

Donna Henke and the rest of the runners are looking forward to ready-set-go on Saturday, June 14 at 3 p.m.

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