A Reason to Relay

 In Blog

David Laprade of Westhampton and his wife, Mary, took part in the first American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Hampshire County 18 years ago, and they continue to participate in Relay to this day. It has never meant more to them than it does now, because Laprade was diagnosed with melanoma last year.

“The main reason we Relay is because of family and friends. At first, we didn’t totally understand what they went through,” Laprade explains. “Now, I do.”

Many of Laprade’s friends and family have been affected by cancer, including Mary’s late brother, Russell Payson of Easthampton, and a friend, the late Joan Cranson of Northampton.

This year, Laprade was part of the Relay team known as The Candy Men. He and 1,016 other participants took part in the 18th annual American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Hampshire County on June 13-14 at Look Memorial Park. Ninety-three teams, including 214 survivors, raised $234,504 for ACS.

I sat out on Relay this year. It was a self-protective measure as the event now makes me sad. It gets me overly focused on cancer and the loss of my late husband Ed. So, this year, I supported it from the sidelines, writing press releases and feature stories that ran in the Gazette.

This is how I know that the 2014 financial goal was $280,000, but Relay tri-chair Wendy Payson of Northampton says Relayers were lucky to have raised what they did as the weather was so rainy this year.

She said she was floored by the participation, and in the days after the event, she thanked volunteers via email.

“The countless hours you put in all through the year, the ideas you brought forward, the creativity you shared, the enthusiasm you have for the event, and the dedication you have for this cause that is so near and dear to all of us is just incredible,” Payson said. “I have enjoyed being a quiet and somewhat behind-the-scenes leader of this group for the past three years, and I am looking forward to staying on the committee and continuing the fight!”

During each Relay, teams of walkers go around and around a temporary track, raising money from donors for their efforts.

Laprade Relayed to honor friends and loved ones, and he walked as a survivor as well.

He discovered his cancer last year when his physician noticed a suspicious lump on his leg and suggested he have it biopsied. This biopsy showed that the lymph node was cancerous, and it was soon removed. Laprade had surgery on 11 more lymph nodes, which were not cancerous.

A month later, Laprade learned he had melanoma in his right toe, and it was amputated – often the only treatment for melanoma. As Laprade explains, chemotherapy has no effect on this type of cancer.

Laprade credits his recovery to his team of dedicated physicians, including an oncologist, a cancer surgeon, a dermatologist and his family doctor, who all keep a regular and keen eye on his health.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today, and that’s a fact,” he says.

Even though Relay is over for another year, donations to the American Cancer Society are still being received at www.relayforlife.org/hampshirecountyma.

Recent Posts

Leave a Comment

Contact Us

We're not around right now. But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.

Not readable? Change text.