Teaming Up in Relay for Life

Here’s another reason to be proud of your county. Gwinnett County has the largest Relay for Life team in the world!  The event has also raised the most money for the past nine years.

The first event took place in 1994, and will commence again this Friday, April 6th.  

Gwinnett Relay for Life begins at 6 p.m. with the opening ceremony, followed by the Survivor’s Lap at 7 p.m.. Snellville’s South Gwinnett Drum Corp will be leading the lap.  

Walking to Remember

Stephani Marbut, team leader of Grace Fellowship’s Relay team, considers the Survivor's Lap to be the most emotional part of the evening.  She chaired Berry College’s Relay for Life back in 2008, her senior year of college.  The Berry team raised $20,000 that year.  

“It’s been an encouragement and a support to me,” Marbut said of the event.  “I have the opportunity to help those around me who are grieving.” 

She lost her mother to ovarian cancer eight years ago.  

“Others in my life have survived and battled cancer,” Marbut said.  “This is an opportunity to give back.” 

’s Relay team has between 15-20 members, with a financial goal of $2,500.  They have reached 75 percent of their goal and have no doubt that they will reach their goal by the end of the event.  This is their first year at the Relay. The team grew out of the church’s cancer support group ministry.  They will have food, face-painting and crazy hair booths for the children in order to continue to raise funds throughout the event.  

Snellville United Methodist Church has a slightly larger team of 28 members.  Their goal is $6,000.  Kim Crawford, who was previously the team captain of SUMC’s youth team, is the current team leader.  She has been active in the Relay for nine years, but it was not until her father-in-law was diagnosed with colon cancer that she began to be fully emotionally invested.  

“He passed away five years ago,” Crawford said, “but went into remission several times.  I really feel that it’s because of the progress made in cancer research.”  

The funds raised through Relay for Life all go toward cancer research.

Walking for Victory

Adriane Borne, a Snellville UMC Relay team member, will participate for the first time this year. She also raised funds through Snellville UMC’s Early Learning Center.  The school raised $500 during a five-day drive. 

Borne was diagnosed with cervical cancer this past November, just a few days before Thanksgiving.  

She believes that, despite the frightening diagnosis, it was a blessing in disguise. 

“You can get so wrapped up in your life, work, and perfection,” she said.  “It’s made me more aware of the blessings in my life and reminded me not to worry so much about the little things.” 

After major surgery, she is now in remission.  She has to visit the doctor every three months for the next two years.  

On Friday, her 13-year-old daughter will walk with her and cheer her on during the Survivor’s lap.  She also has a 10-year-old son.

“It’s very important for women to have their yearly exams,” she added, believing that her young age -- 38 -- gave her a false sense of security. 

Walking for a Cause

Emily Good, a freshman at l, is one of 42 team members at her school.  The team is led by Michelle Golden, Lesley Grimes and Andrea Ryles. The school’s goal is to raise $10,000.  Emily’s personal goal is $100, which she met Tuesday.  

Emily lost her best friend, Daniela Joel, to DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma), an inoperable brain tumor, on September 21 of last year.  Daniela had just turned 12 when she was diagnosed.  She was 14 when she passed away.  

The girls met in fourth grade and remained close ever since that time.  

“The Relay is a very moving experience,” Emily said, noting that everyone “walks around with signs that say “In Honor of…” or “In Memory of…”  

Everyone at the Relay knows someone or has been affected personally by cancer.  

“You’re with people who have gone through what you have gone through,” she said.

Besides cancer walks, Emily also keeps a Twitter account dedicated to raising awareness about Daniela’s type of cancer.  The account, @PrayforDaniela, had over 1,000 followers by the time Daniela passed away.  She keeps it up to inform people about research and places to donate.  She is considering starting a foundation with a couple of her friends in honor of Daniela.  

Daniela was a huge fan of Justin Bieber.  A few months before her death, Justin visited Q100 in Atlanta.  Emily went down to meet him.  She described Daniela’s situation and her admiration of him as an artist.  She asked that he write her a letter or call her on the phone. 

Instead, he visited her house and gave her a private concert.  He also wrote her a letter, took pictures, and left her an autograph.  They became friends and met up again at other concerts. 

Emily considers the Luminary Ceremony the most memorable and emotional part of the evening.  At 10:30 p.m., in the dark of the night, bagpipe players will precede a time of quiet and reflection in honor of the survivors.  Daniela will be honored in the hearts of her friends she left behind at that time, as will all the other victims of this often fatal disease.