Thousands take to track to fight cancer.

Byline: Lynne Klaft

GARDNER - More than 800 people made their way around the track - children, elderly couples, teenagers, young mothers, middle-aged men, a babe in arms, the neighbor you see at the supermarket - the only visible sign that they have beaten cancer the purple T-shirt each wore proclaiming the fact.

The cancer survivor Victory Lap kicked off the American Cancer Society 15th Annual Relay for Life of Greater Gardner this weekend at Mount Wachusett Community College.

After opening ceremonies and speeches, the 24-hour walk began with the victory lap amid cheers and tears from the thousands of other walkers standing around the college's track.

"I feel energized. This is just awesome, touching, sad and yet uplifting" said Sharon E. Ringuette of Gardner, an 18-1/2-year cancer survivor who carried the banner at the front of the victory lap with Paula D'Entremont, a 27-year survivor, and Cindy Clark, a 15-year survivor.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Ms. Ringuette left her job and went back to school and is now an oncology nurse who also runs a support group with Ms. D'Entremont, who is also in nursing.

She captained one of the first teams in the first relay 15 years ago. She is now captain of another team and is an oncology nurse at the Simonds-Sinon Regional Cancer Center in Fitchburg.

"I see lots of people and different diagnoses all the time. Some of my patients are here tonight; all are wearing purple.

"I turned to my daughter, Jennifer, who is a 7-year breast cancer survivor, and said to her, wouldn't it be great if they find a cure, then I'd be out of a job," said Ms. Ringuette, who, after greeting and hugging another woman in purple, added that there was a lot of hugging during the entire relay.

"This is my friend Barbara (Lafrennie of Winchendon) and she's an 11-year survivor," said Ms. Ringuette.

The two met 11 years ago, just after Ms. Lafrennie was diagnosed.

"I felt like it was the end of the world ... until I talked with Sharon on the telephone. I still go to her support group; I don't know what I would have done without her. We need more facilitators like Sharon," said Ms. Lafrennie.

The Gardner Relay for Life was the seventh largest fundraiser for the American Cancer Society last year, with a total of more than $800,000 raised, of the 4,900 relays held around the country.

The money raised is used for research, education, advocacy and programs for cancer patients and their families.

Last year, 3 million people participated in relays across the nation and more than half a million cancer survivors walked the opening laps.

The all-night community event in Gardner fielded 165 teams with more than

6,000 participants keeping a continuous presence on the track throughout the night, walking in shifts, sleeping in tents set up around and inside the track.

One tent, with a sign "Night Crawlers," was pitched on the far end of the track, with people barbecuing dinner.

"Why Night Crawlers? Because by the end of the night we are crawling around the track!" said Dee-Anne Aylott of Fitchburg, who has

participated in the relay for the past 14 years.

The team included 17 members, one of whom was Anne C. Guida, a four-year survivor.

"Anne and I have been friends for over 30 years. We've all lost a lot of family and friends over the years. I do this because it's my way of giving back," said Ms. Aylott.

Ms. Aylott's favorite hour of the relay is the time just before sunrise.

"The candles around the track are slowly flickering out, it's very quiet and you can only hear birds chirping and people's feet walking. It's a surreal time.

"I reflect on people that I've lost and people going through their own treatments now.

"The folks start getting up and out of their tents, putting the coffee on - the start of another new day," said Ms. Aylott.

ART: PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) `Night Crawlers' Anne C. Guida, left, and Dee-Anne Aylott stand outside the team's tent on Friday night. (2) Survivors kick off the 24-hour American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Greater Gardner at Mount Wachusett Community College Friday night.

PHOTOG: LYNNE KLAFT