VOORHEESVILLE — "Rain will not wash cancer away!" Sherry Burgoon shouted into the crowd of soggy supporters at Saturday’s Relay for Life fund-raiser to fight cancer. She stood on a tarp-covered podium as people cheered. The turnout at Voorheesville’s high school was not as large as last year’s first relay event, but spirits were high.

The ceremonial second walk around the track, where every participant walks a lap together with cancer survivors in the lead, carried the same awe-inspiring intensity as last year. A swarm of umbrellas floated gracefully along the curves of the track.
This second lap is the most important to cancer survivor Greg Burgoon. The first lap was reserved just for cancer survivors. They took the first treck around the football field with the crowd clapping. Gloria Gaynor’s, "I Will Survive" blasted over loudspeakers.
"The first walk to me says I’m a survivor," Burgoon told The Enterprise. "Everybody has problems, ours happens to be cancer." But it is the "second walk that’s most important to me," he said.
Relay for Life is "awesome," he said, because there are two major components to beating cancer — support and research — which is what the walk is all about.

Burgoon who was diagnosed with oral cancer, was one of the guests of honors on Saturday. After 12 surgeries, his face and jaw have been completely reconstructed and he now lives to tell about it.
"I wasn’t ready to die," he said.
He motioned with his hand, making a line through the middle of his cheek, "From here down, it was all completely gone," he said. He’s been called "a walking cadaver," and it’s kind of true, he said, because parts from his shoulder, legs, abdomen, and elsewhere were removed to reconstruct his face. The only part of his body that grafts were not taken from, was his left arm because that’s where the IV’s were during surgery, he said.

Burgoon is happy to share his story but, since it would be difficult for a crowd to understand his speech as he talks through swollen tissue, he had his brother, Dan, read a message to the community during the opening ceremony. The two stood by each other.
"For many people, it’s a silent disease," Dan Burgoon read; the cancer can attack any part of your body and grow for years without your knowing about it.
Greg Burgoon wrote about his 11-hour surgeries, his weeks in the hospital, and "the support that is so necessary" including from his son and siblings. He also mentioned the magical "chemo-cocktail," given to him by his doctor.
As Dan Burgoon read about his brother’s struggles he had to stop to compose himself as he became choked up. "You can do it, Dan," Greg Burgoon said in a role reversal, now encouraging his brother while wrapping his arm around him.
Cancer, said Sherry Burgoon, the relay chair, "is a personal problem for me"; Greg is her brother.
"He truly is my hero," she said.
Another community member, Dorothy "Dot" Herzog, stepped up to the microphone after the Burgoon brothers. "Look at me: I’m a cancer survivor!" she shouted, raising both of her hands in the air, shaking her fist in victory. She is now completely cancer-free, she said.

The Relay for Life walk helps survivors, Greg Burgoon said, but most importantly it’s about the research; research made it possible for his straight leg bone to be curved into a jaw bone, he said.

Grassroots support

After 12th-grader Ali Glacier sang the national anthem, the track ribbon was cut, and the long journey of an all-night relay walk began. Each team was to have at least one member walking at all times.

Tents were pitched beside the track and signs of the various relay teams were hung. National Honor Society had a team as did Key Club and individual families. Children had created their own teams. One was called Happy Campers; their banner and matching T-shirts depicted a marshmallow man on a S’more.
One RV displayed inspirational signs — saying "believers" and "faith." Baked-goods sale tables where piled high with brownies and cupcakes; there was even a fruit stand for those who preferred more healthy snacks.

Nine hundred walkers signed up to participate, with $63,800 raised by Saturday morning. More proceeds would flow through the night, with food sales, and raffles. Smith’s Tavern (Smitty’s) donated over 100 pizzas.
"I’m thrilled," Sherry Burgoon said on Saturday evening. The weather didn’t deter people and everyone is making the best of it, she said. Burgoon is a teacher in the school district. The relay, which has become a community event, has been organized for the past two years by the school, with students and faculty leadership.
The message that Burgoon hopes is sent through town as a ripple effect from the event is that success can be achieved "if we all continue to be positive and supportive."

Last year alone, the local chapter of the American Cancer Society was able to fully fund the employment of three new cancer specialist doctors at Albany Medical Center, she said.
"That excites me," Burgoon said. What’s great about the relay program is that walkers find out where the money is going, she said, "You see the result"and Relay for Life is the grassroots."