Cancer fighters walk 24 hours

As Kristina D'Agostino walked June 2 around the track outside L'Anse Creuse Middle School East, she raised money for the American Cancer Society and celebrated her life as a cancer survivor.

It has been a little more than three years since Kristina, 14, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a bone cancer that commonly affects children.

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Kristina was one of 65 cancer survivors to participate in an American Cancer Society Relay For Life held in Chesterfield Township.

The America Cancer Society's Relay For Life is a 24-hour event where the lives of cancer survivors are celebrated and teams of people walk to raise funds for the organization as well as raise awareness of treatments and prevention.

For Kristina, cancer meant taking a year off school because of inpatient chemotherapy treatments and bone-replacement surgery on her right arm.

Although she is now cancer-free, Kristina continues to talk about her experiences in hopes that it will motivate others to learn more about the disease and work to eradicate it.

"It was really hard for me," said Kristina, a ninth-grader at L'Anse Creuse High School North in Macomb Township. "I didn't get to see anyone from school. It was difficult."

The relay, Kristina said, "makes me think of how thankful I am. I was able to jump back up and catch up with school and my friends."

Tina D'Agostino and her husband, Dave -- Kristina's parents -- and family, friends and coworkers formed a 30-member team called Rosie's Rebelz. Rose is Kristina's middle name. The D'Agostino family lives in Chesterfield Township.

"If there wasn't research there would be no protocol for treatment and we would have no survivors," said Tina D'Agostino, 36.

Last year, 52 communities across the metro Detroit area participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life, raising more than $3.2 million for the organization.

In addition to the Relay For Life for Chesterfield Township, other events were held June 2 in Shelby Township and Sterling Heights.

Beth Heath formed Relay for Life in Chesterfield Township two years ago because, she said, she believed the community would be receptive to the idea.

"I had been relaying since 1998. I lost my mom to colon cancer and I did the relay as a memorial every year," said Heath, who lives in Chesterfield Township. "In 2003, my then-6-year-old son Kyle was diagnosed with kidney cancer. It seemed right to form something in Chesterfield Township. There are a lot of young families and people here who are dealing with cancer."

In addition to being the relay chair, Heath and her husband, Craig, formed a team in 2004 named Cruisin' with Kyle.

The team is named after their son, who is now 10 and in remission.

"They saw a need in Chesterfield and decided to do something," said Sarah Umscheid, community representative for the Metro Detroit Area Service Center for the American Cancer Society.

Last year, during the first Relay For Life for Chesterfield Township, there were 10 teams that participated and raised a little more than $32,000 for the cancer society.

This year, there were 15 teams participating that raised $58,310 as of June 4. The goal for this year was $45,000.

"There is a lot of work, time and effort that goes into putting a team together, but it's worth it," said Dave D'Agostino, 35. "You raise money for a wonderful organization and have fun."
source:www.freep.com