PHOTO ALBUM

This arch of balloons marks
the start and finish line on
the track.

Above: Paul Gross, Lisa Redmond, Ellen

Silverberg, all of Farmington Hills, hit the track
during Relay For Life.

Relay For Life
Debuts In Oak Park

For the first time, a Relay for Life was held
at David H. Shepherd Park in Oak Park. The
Relay drew more than 150 people and 20
teams made up of area families, faith-based
groups, businesses, clubs and other organi-
zations.
They raised $15,000 to support the
American Cancer Society's mission of sav-
ing lives from cancer.
If you would like to donate, visit www.
RelayForLife.org/oakparkmi or call (248)
663-3427.

Laps Of Love

Relay For Life participants celebrate
survivors; fundraise to find cancer cure.

Volunteer Eileen

Higer of Farmington
Hills sells items to
Ethan Lederman, 7,

of West Bloomfield,
Chloe Barnett, 9,
of White Lake and

Clayton Wistuba,
7, of Swartz Creek.
Proceeds go toward
Relay fundraising.

Team Cutler was led

by Aida Cutler of Oak
Park, who lost her

husband, Phil Cutler,
last year to cancer.

Aida received a
proclamation from

the city honoring her
husband's service to

the Oak Park
community.

24

June 24 • 2010

Michelle Silber
Special to the Jewish News

I

was introduced to West Bloomfield's
Relay for Life four years ago. I wasn't
quite sure what to expect. The word
"cancer" is pretty scary and I first thought
how could this weekend be a positive
experience? As soon as I walked onto the
grounds, greeted by smiles, laughter and
hugs, I was no longer scared but inspired.
I was amazed by every aspect of Relay
— from the Survivor Lap, to seeing the
whole community come together for a
common goal to the Luminaria Ceremony
at night. This was a life-changing moment
for me. I left Relay filled with love, inspira-
tion and hope, saying, "Next year I need
to get involved. I need to do more to
celebrate my husband and mom who are
two-time cancer survivors. I need to fight
back so one day we will see a world with-
out cancer."
The following year I joined Team
B'nai B'rith and was recruited by West
Bloomfield's Relay committee to be the
survivorship chair. Relay is a nationwide
event of the American Cancer Society.
This year's Relay for Life of West
Bloomfield was held June 5-6 at West
Bloomfield High School. We honored our
12th year by "Celebrating a World With
More Birthdays:' Despite the rain, more
than 2,000 people attended, including
200 survivors. Forty teams participated,
including Ahavah BBG, Temple Israel,
Temple Shir Shalom, Frankel Jewish
Academy, Jewish Family Services, Temple
Kol Ami, B'nai B'rith, the Mitzvah Kids
on Friends For A Cure and more. They
all decorated their tents, fundraised and

walked the laps.
So far, our Relay has raised $210,000
— more money than any other Relay in
Metro Detroit.
Our day began with the "Survivor Lap
and Balloon Release:' My husband, Brad
Silber, 47, of Commerce Township shares
his experience.
"I am a two-time survivor of cancer,
he said. "Like many survivors, my battles
with cancer left me with a torn soul and
aching heart. Relay was my first step in
healing my emotional wounds and regain-
ing my life. Most memorable was the sur-
vivor lap that kicks off Relay.
"I walked side by side with 200 fellow
survivors, each with their own stories of
struggle and pain. We were given a purple
balloon to carry with us as we circled the
track. Tears filled my eyes as those who
lined the track applauded and cheered
us on. At the end of the first lap, I, like so
many others, made a wish and released
my balloon. A sea of purple rose to the sky
delivering prayers, hopes and dreams."
Another highlight was the Luminaria
Ceremony where we heard inspirational
personal stories from local survivors. The
only light was the glow of the illuminated
bags bearing the names of those who have
or are battling cancer.
If you are interested in joining our com-
mittee or forming a team, e-mail Kari
DeCarlo at kari.decarlo@cancer.org or
Staci Goldman at staci@goldmanmail.
com. To make a donation, go to www.
relayforlife.org/westbloomfieldmi .

❑

Michelle Silber of Commerce Township is
survivorship chair for the Relay for Life

of West Bloomfield.

