Remembering to celebrate

MOSES LAKE — If Wendy Gilbert has any advice for women in the community, it is to get regular mammograms.

Gilbert, 51, is a breast cancer survivor celebrating her seven-year milestone the same week she participates in the Grant/Adams County Relay for Life.

When the event kicks off tonight at 6 p.m. at the Moses Lake High School track, Gilbert walks the survivor lap with others from the community who won their battle with cancer.

"It's very meaningful," Gilbert said. "You get tingly, and you get teary-eyed."

Registration for Relay for Life is at 4 p.m. Teams begin walking at 7 p.m. today and don't stop until noon on Saturday. A luminary ceremony is at 10 p.m. tonight.

Events scheduled during the night include a Mr. Relay beauty contest, where men from the community dress as women for a reverse pageant, and a dancing contest fitting this year's theme, "Dancing for a Cure."

Community Relationship Manager Cheri Stoker said one feature of this year's event is guest speaker Jeff Newell.

"He's a cancer survivor who has an interesting story to share, and he's a very entertaining speaker," Stoker said. "He's very personable."

The laps are themed throughout the night, such as patriotism, pajama hour and crazy hat lap.

"It is a celebration of our survivors and the inspiration they give us all," Stoker said.

Gilbert participated in Relay for Life the past six years, her decision prompted by her story of survival. This year she is serving as survivor chair for the Grant and South Adams County Relay for Life.

Last Monday, she found the results of her mammogram indicated she was cancer free, making 2007 her seventh year without cancer.

Gilbert said if she had not gone in for her yearly mammogram in 2000, she would probably not be alive today.

She feels blessed she did get the mammogram, taken just a year after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. The cancer Gilbert had was isolated to one breast, requiring a mastectomy.

"First when you find out you have cancer, there's a dark cloud, and you don't want to say it out loud," she said. "You don't want to tell anyone."

Gilbert said she feels guilty sometimes because she survived cancer and others did not. One of the purposes she found for her life is to engage herself in the fight against cancer. She plans to participate in Relay for Life every year.

"I will be there until cancer is no longer a threat to our people, to the human race," she said.

Relay for Life is not about the money, Gilbert said. It is about what the money can do, such as fund research, drugs and care.

The goal of Grant/Adams County Relay for Life was to raise $110,000, Stoker said.

"They are well on their way to that," she said.

Stoker and Gilbert agreed the more than 60 teams would likely surpass their goal.

Gilbert wanted to tell other women they should get their yearly mammograms, even if they do not have a family history of breast cancer. Her family history did not include breast cancer, until her mother was diagnosed.

"You need to be getting those mammograms, and if you have a family history, you need to be getting them sooner," she said.

For more information, call Stoker at 509-783-5108.