Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 7, 1 July 2008 — Relay for Life fights cancer with an all-nighter at Kamehameha Schools [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Relay for Life fights cancer with an all-nighter at Kamehameha Schools

By Liza Simon Public Affairs Specialist For cancer survivor Gerry Iohansen, one of the worst things about being diagnosed with the disease was the way the news was delivered to her 16 years ago. "In walked the doctor and said, 'Your tunior is malignant.' Next thing he says is, 'Do you want to be alone?' " Alone? The vivacious Iohansen decided then and there that coping with cancer should not be an isolated endeavor, but an opportunity to express to others the preciousness of life. "It was reconunended to stay home, rest, but how many times ean you elean the windows and screens?" she says with a laugh. So off to work she would go to Kamehameha Schools, where she is the alumni administrator. At the office, she often found herself eonsoling others who cried with eoncern for her. "That's when I realized the cancer was meant to lead me to this work of helping others. It helped me create a legacy." As part of this legacy, Iohansen,

whose eolon cancer is now in remission, fonned the HOPE Hui; that stands for Hawaiians Offering Positive Energies. Her group has been particularly active in providing cancer prevention education to Native Hawaiian women, who have the state's highest rate for breast cancer. HOPE Hui also offers general support to people fighting cancer and their caretakers and survivors just by reaching out and reminding them of the lesson that Iohansen exemplifies so well: "There's so mueh to live for. You just have to make a ehoiee and do something for yourself," she said. This sununer Johansen is also the chairperson of the Relay for Life at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama campus, whieh happens Aug. 23, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.ni. Several schools throughout the state are also hosting similar relays, designed nationwide by the American Cancer Society to increase cancer prevention awareness and raise money for eancer cure research, while honoring the lives of people affected by cancer. The fonnat for the relays

is made up of races and entertainment spanning 12 hours from night till morning. Why the overnight activity? Johansen said it is meant to dramatize the message that "cancer never sleeps" and is

best defeated when families and conununity members stay positive in facing down the disease. For Kamehameha Schools' relay, whieh is open to alumni

and family members, Johansen has found plenty of willing volunteers. Some are from her own class of 1960, whieh has lost 17 people to cancer. In putting out the eall for volunteers, Johansen said many

alumni were aware of new research showing Native Hawaiians are at a high risk for developing for some fonns of cancer and they were also determined to do something to minimize this heahh threat. Johansen points out that breast cancer is believed to have claimed the life of the school's founder Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. In niemory of Pauahi and the good times shared by the now absent classmates, Johansen is making sure that the Kamehameha relay has a special ho'olaule'a flavor. It will open with several hālau perfonnances hosted by kumu hula and Relay for Life volunteers Manu Boyd and Vicky Holt Takamine. Johansen is especially looking forward to the moment when she and other cancer survivors from tf e ranks of Kamehameha alumni will literally walk the talk by proudly promenading togetherat Kunuiake% Stadium on the Kapālama campus.

For information on the Kamehameha Schools Relay for Life, eall 842-8445 or visit www.rflkaniehanieha.org. I

Relay for Life events Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society's leading effort to raise funds for cancer programs and awareness, To register as a cancer survivor, caregiver or as a team, eall the American Cancer Society at 595-7500 or visit www.relayforlife.org, Kailua, July 12, noon-7 a.m., Kailua Beach Park Magic lsland, July 12, 7 p.m.-7 a.m., Magic lsland at Ala Moana Beach South Maui, July 12, 7 p.m.-7 a.m., Kenolio Park, Kīhei Hilo, July 19, 6 p.m.-6 a.m., Francis Wong Stadium Central Maui, July 19, 7 p.m.-7 a.m., War Memorial Stadium

Moloka'i, Aug. 8, 7 p.m.-7 a.m., Kaunakakai Ball Park West Maui, Aug. 16, 7 p.m.-7 a.m., Lahaina Recreation Center Kamehameha Schools, Aug. 23, 7 p.m.-7 a.m., Kunuiakea Stadium, Kapālama Kohala, Sept. 20, 6 p.m.-6 a.m., Kamehameha Park Waimea, Hawai'i lsland, Oct. 25, 6 p.m.-6 a.m., Waimea Park

For information about cancer, contact the American Cancer Society's 24-hour help-line at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org,

Gerry Johansen. - Photo: Liia Simon

V'm RELAY

FOR LIFE

OLAKINO - Y0UR HEALĪH