On Saturday, June 14, an unusual event took place in Pine Bush that will have repercussions around the nation. Many survivors of cancer and their supporters gathered in the heat and humidity, not to cry or give up, but to celebrate life. All ages and all kinds of people can be diagnosed with cancer; no one ever knows when it will strike its staggering blow. In the past 30 years, there have been incredible improvements in treatment and survival, but one of the most important factors in a cancer outcome is spirit and a will to fight it. The Relay for Life event brings the love and friendship from friends, family, and neighbors that everyone needs, but especially when one feels vulnerable when stricken with an affliction like cancer.

There's nothing quite like the Relay for Life…at least the way it's celebrated in Pine Bush. With the colorful tents pitched around the rectangular walkway, the kids darting in and out, the dogs chasing Frisbees, the guys tossing a football around, the rock bands cranking away in the entertainment tent, the popcorn and purple ices, the hot dogs, and the general air of fun, it's like a carnival…except that there are all these people in the purple shirts with "Survivor" written on the back.

Okay, it is a carnival, but instead of rides on fanciful machinery, the primary action is the hundreds of people marching steadily counterclockwise around the track laid out on the grass, tramping past the tents from all the sponsors, like Walden Bank and Pine Bush Equipment. In effect, this is a carnival to celebrate life, and to combat cancer, that dread killer of hope and destroyer of lives.

As three o'clock on Saturday afternoon approached, the parking lot filled up, people with cameras lined up across the track, and the survivors in their purple T-shirts gathered by the registration tent while Bon Jovi's song, "I Love This Town," boomed out of the PA. Donna Henke took the mike to introduce the event and make the point that Pine Bush Relay for Life has raised more than $500,000 in the past four years. She then introduced County Legislator Dan Depew who spoke briefly of how this event has grown steadily in importance here in the Town of Crawford. Mary Bickel was then introduced, and she led the group of ladies that wove baskets to be given to each survivor.

Down at the western end of the field, the Downes Tree Service had erected a 200 foot-high crane from which they'd hung a huge US flag, which provided the perfect backdrop for a moving rendition of America the Beautiful to officially open the event.

The survivors began their lap of honor, with each of them receiving their hand-woven basket as they set off to rounds of applause around the field. Following the Survivors' lap, the 45 participating teams put their first walkers onto the track for the serious work ahead.

Serious? Indeed, because each team would keep a member in motion around that track until 7 a.m. of the following morning. Of course, for some teams this will be just a relaxed stroll, albeit one that they will keep returning to over the next 16 hours, but for others, like the formidable Crispell Crusaders, this will be a test, because they are the unbeaten champions of the Pedometer Challenge Cup, which goes to the team that puts the most laps in during the entire Relay. The Crusaders have yet to concede the cup to anyone else.

And yet, despite the prickly heat, which was soon doused a bit by a passing thundershower, and the serious intent here, the atmosphere at the Relay for Life in Pine Bush retained that carnival atmosphere. Maybe it's the mixing of groups of old folks and teenagers, kids and parents, pet goats and Chihuahuas — who can say? This is fun in a very American fashion: a good time for a good cause.

Later That Night
By 11:45 pm., the atmosphere at the relay had settled into a space between a party and an endurance event. The big flag had gone, along with the crane, but the Nighthawk lights were on, illuminating a busy scene. Cars came and went as people arrived for their scheduled laps, or left to go home and catch some sleep.

Flooding the Void, the last of the rock bands scheduled to play, finished their set at midnight to applause from a small but enthusiastic audience of teens. And then, DJ Jeff, from That's Entertoonment — who contributed his time and music for free and was on the site for 22 hours — returned.

With the smoke rising from half a dozen cookouts, the constant procession of team walkers, plus the drifting groups of youngsters, the place was alive. And then DJ Jeff put on the Macarena, and in the middle of the field a group of thirty or forty young people began line dancing, while to either side others played volleyball or kicked a soccer ball around.

Donna Henke was still in the midst of the whirlwind of organizational matters, so much so, that she confessed to having forgotten her 11:30 slot for walking. The Crispell Crusaders were still pushing hard, driving around the track at twice the pace of most other walkers, while over in the Law Society Tent there was a game of poker in progress.

And so it continued through the night, into the dawn, and right up to the last lap at 7 a.m. Donna Henke noted that "we had a great crowd right up to the last moment. This was a tremendous event and I am just so proud of this community."

* * * Team/Sponsor Focus
Croppin' Time, a group of local scrapbook fans and quilters, have two cancer survivors on their team. The theme of their club is a Pajama Party. They sold pajamas in purple to raise money for the relay and offered a beautiful purple and white quilt for sale.

The Fighting Irish, at the other end of the field, was started by Kirsten Elwood of Middletown. Eileen Cole of Pine Bush and Barbara O'Donnell of Washingtonville teamed up with Eileen's husband, Robert and friends to form "It Takes A Village" theme. Robert Cole is the owner of Village Ford in Pine Bush and feeds all the participants in the relay.

"We do this because money needs to be raised for research and support," Barbara said. Did you know that, "today, more than 70 percent of all children diagnosed with cancer survive five years or more? Before 1970, it was less than half," according to the American Cancer Society.

Chairwoman Donna Henke told the crowd that the money raised from the event would reach over $500,000.

"We are going to, together, put an end to the disease that never sleeps and to hearing the dreaded words, you have cancer," Henke said.

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