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They walk for those who fight

HANCOCK – Alyssa Stenersen has two cousins with leukemia, so she was taking part Thursday in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life for Houghton County at Finlandia University’s McAfee Field in Hancock.

Stenersen said one of her cousins, who is 8 years old, has been dealing with treatments for leukemia, but she’s trying not to let it interfere with her life too much.

“She fought it once, and she’s fighting it again,” she said.

Stenersen said her cousin was given six weeks to live and she’s in the fifth week, but she’s going through with her daily routine.

“She’s going to school,” Stenerson said.

Her other cousin with leukemia is 3 years old, and Stenerson said Relay For Life lets those fighting cancer know there are people who care.

“I think it’s a really good way for the community to show support,” she said.

Thursday was the first time Relay For Life was conducted at McAfee Field after years at the track at Houghton High School, and Stephanie Swartzendruber, American Cancer Society community organizer, said it was also the first time it didn’t last 24 hours. The Relay went from 4 p.m. to midnight.

“We have seen kind of a change in the Relay over the years,” she said.

There has been a drop in the number of participants in the Relay, which Swartzendruber said is partly because of the fact that people have so many other things to do during the summer.

It was decided to have the Relay on Thursday rather than Friday and Saturday as it used to be, because it was thought more people would attend on a weekday rather than the weekend.

Although much of the fundraising for the Relay For Life takes place before the event, Swartzendruber said not as much money is being raised as in past years.

Also at the McAfee Field event was Carolyn Bruzdzinski of the ACS, who said she was visiting many communities in the Upper Peninsula to give support to local volunteers and organizations, which work with the ACS.

“I’m meeting a lot of important people,” she said.

Bruzdzinski, who was trained as a cancer researcher, said the survival rates for many types of cancer are improving.

“We have about 14 and a half million survivors,” she said.

The survival rate for cervical, prostate and colorectal cancers is at about 90 percent, now, Bruzdzinski said.

Although research into cancer treatment is important, Bruzdzinski said educating people about prevention is at least as important.

“About 60 percent of cancers are related to lifestyle,” she said.

Changing habits, such as smoking, not exercising and not getting proper nutrition, are important for reducing chances for the development of cancers, Bruzdzinski said.

Bruzdzinski said it’s difficult to know if a cure will be found for all types of cancer, but research is continuing. The American Cancer Society has committed to doubling its cancer research budget in the next five years.

“The problem with cancer is there are so many kinds,” she said.

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