Dawson County celebrates 10 years of survivorship and kicks off Relay for Life 2006

By Michele Hester

Hannah Johnson holds a candle during Dawson County’s Relay for Life 2006 celebration kickoff Jan. 30.

Hannah Johnson loves the word survivor. During Relay for Life’s 2006 kickoff celebration Jan. 30, Johnson stood up before a group of both survivor’s and their supporters in celebration of the work the American Cancer Society and Dawson County Relay for Life has done for her and thousands of others.

“I’m actually from Forsyth County,” said Johnson, who for the last seven years has fought a battle with Hodgkin’s disease. “I’ve lived there for about 12 years, but my grandparents, aunts and cousins live here. When it came to deciding where to participate in Relay for Life, it wasn’t a very hard choice to come up here.”

She said the care, commitment and dedication Dawson County has given to her family and the contributions she received from people she did not even know through community fundraisers created a very special place in her heart for Dawsonville. “We had chicken plate fund-raiser dinners in my aunt’s store’s parking lot and people would make $300 donations for their chicken plates,” Johnson said. “You see so many people who helped that you want to give back.”

Johnson could not participate in last year’s Dawson County Relay for Life. Instead, she spent six months in a Houston hospital receiving a bone marrow transplant.

Although Relay for Life was taking place back home, the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life were with her in Houston, helping her find lodging and directing her to organizations that would take in patients from outside the area. They also directed her to organizations that would reimburse her for her prescription costs.

Johnson has been home for about six months now and is taking her title as a survivor to the next level. “With survivorship, comes responsibility,” she wrote in Relay for Life’s 2006 brochure. “The Relay for Life is a wonderful way for me to give back.”
Johnson is on this year’s Relay for Life committee and is currently working to update the website with more information that will help with organizing teams, keeping meeting schedules and fund-raising efforts.

The American Cancer Society is the number one not for profit research organization in the world, and according to Rena Pendley, Dawson County’s American Cancer Society representative, “We have played a major role in every cancer advance in the last 50 years.” Research made possible by the American Cancer Society has decreased cancer mortality by 50 percent and prevented almost 5 million deaths, reduced cancer by 25 percent and prevented nearly 6 million diagnoses, and measurably improved the quality of life for thousands of people with cancer. “We do this with service and support,” said Pendley. “Volunteers are essential.”

Relay for Life is a celebration of both cancer survivorship and community spirit. Last year, Dawson County Relay for Life teams spent months preparing for the overnight relay and festivities. Teams are currently forming for this year’s event which will take place from 7 p.m. Friday, June 2 – 7 a.m. Saturday, June 3 at the Dawson County Park and Rec track.

Eleven teams have already signed up to Celebrate 10 Years of Survivorship in Dawson County, and to commemorate ten years of Relay for Life involvement, each team will choose their own team theme. “Be as creative as you want,” said Pendley. “This is going to be the best Relay for Life Dawson County has seen.”

There are also numerous Relay for Life committee openings. For volunteer opportunities or to register a Relay for Life team, contact Rena Pendley at (770) 297-1176.