Metro

Collective Support

Relay For Life participants champion funds for cancer research and awareness.

Shelli Liebman Dorfman

Senior Writer

T

hose who merely passed by the
June 6-7 Relay For Life at West
Bloomfield High School may only
have noticed the fun of a bubble foam pit
and carnival games and heard the giggles
of children and the music of Steve Acho.
Those on the inside, however, knew the
annual American Cancer Society event
was the inspiration and camaraderie of a
community coming together in support of
cancer awareness.
Participants came with donations in the
form of time, funds and hair for Wigs 4
Kids; and their dedication was punctuated
by such moving activities as the balloon
release that accompanies a survivors' lap
around the high school track.
"You don't realize when walking down
the street how many people are affected
by cancer," said Lori Haber Buckfire of
Bloomfield Hills, whose husband, Dan,
and 4-year-old son, Hayden, joined her
at the event. "But when you see the sea of
purple 'survivor' shirts at Relay, you put
faces to the statistics!'
A cancer survivor, Buckfire is this year's
top individual fundraiser for the event,
with $11,000 pledged at print time. Her
team, Spindles Crew, has brought in more
than any other team, with $17,000.
"This year was more about quality than
quantity;" Buckfire said. "The economy has
definitely had an impact on the donations,
but the thought and intention are there.
And that is what Relay is all about anyway.
People are struggling with unemployment
and businesses in crises, but they still want
to contribute to this important cause!'
No matter the amount, she says each
donation is greatly appreciated. "I have a
friend whose kids set up a lemonade stand
and donated part of their proceeds to my
Relay team," she said.
This year, survivors wore beaded neck-
laces corresponding to the years they have
been a cancer survivor. "You see one neck-
lace on some people and 30 or more on
others. As a survivor wearing four neck-
laces, I am inspired and determined to be
wearing 40 more one day," Buckfire said.
For Buckfire, that makes Relay about
hope. "It makes you realize there are good
stories out there, and there's no reason
why that good story can't be yours.

A16

June 11 = 2009

Dan, Hayden and Lori Buckfire of Bloomfield Hills at this year's
Relay For Life event.

Lana Jacobs of Bloomfield Hills and Nancy Braun of
Farmington Hills from Team B'nai B'rith

Kylie, Bailey and Madison Tarnopol, 5, of
West Bloomfield wait to get their hair cut
for Wigs 4 Kids.

"I also think that Relay brings people
together, albeit in a bittersweet kind of
a way. The procuring cause is cancer,
which is obviously a bad thing. But
we get joy in sharing this experience
together, supporting our loved ones and
honoring the memory of those we have
lost," she said.
"My goal is to see an end to cancer, and
change Relay For Life to an event where
we just come to hang out and have fun on
the West Bloomfield running track — for
no reason at all." E

Debi Farber with Fringe Salon in West Bloomfield shows Kylie Tarnopol, 5, of West
Bloomfield the hair she cut off.

To make a donation to the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life of West
Bloomfield, access the Web site at www.relayforlife.org or call (248) 663-
3400.