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Whitewater Relay for Life walkers on the track Friday through Saturday

Photo

Mary Salverson, honorary chairwoman of the 2010 Relay for Life of Whitewater.

The Whitewater Relay for Life will take place June 25 and 26 on the Whitewater High School Track. File photo.

WHITEWATER -- Walkers will be on the track at Whitewater High School Friday and Saturday for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life of Whitewater.

In a Relay for Life event, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the relay; the overnight events generally run up to 24 hours in length.

Janine Fassl, publicity chairwoman for the Whitewater relay, said 22 teams are registered for the event, up from 19 in 2009.

Last month, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater held their Relay for Life. The Relay for Life Walworth County will be held July 9-10 at the Walworth County Fairgrounds.

Honorary chairperson

Name: Mary Salverson, honorary chairwoman of the ACS Relay for Life of Whitewater.

Family: Husband Dennis, two adult sons and three grandchildren.

Occupation: A retired teacher who taught for more than 36 years at Washington Elementary School in Whitewater.

What keeps her motivated: “Family, friends, the great outdoors, and any project that needs to be done,” she said. “I always have to be busy doing something.”

Favorite saying: “Life’s simplest pleasures often bring the most joy.”

Her story of cancer: She was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1987 after experiencing abdominal pain and weight loss. She had two surgeries in 1988 to remove the cancer.

In 1996, a tumor was detected and removed from her ovary and in 2008, a spot on her breast was detected. Both biopsies returned as nonmalignant.

“I want to stress how important education is in the fighting of cancer,” she said. “It is also so important to listen to your doctors and follow the recommendations of the ACS: monthly breast exams, mammograms, pap smears, colorectal examinations. And listen to your body.

“I am very thankful (for) all the advances in the testing and treatments for cancer.”

What she learned from her experience: “Enjoy your life, be it with family or friends, reading or completing a project,” she said. “And don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. I have spent more time traveling with my husband. Last year, we completed visiting all 50 states.”

Advice for those diagnosed with cancer: “Keep positive about this diagnosis and don’t let the negative get you down,” she said. “Your body is fighting with you, and it needs you to nourish it and keep it going.”

Salverson and her husband invite all caregivers to join with survivors for the first lap around the track at the Whitewater Relay for Life at 6 p.m. Friday. The relay will take place around the track at Whitewater High School, 534 S. Elizabeth St. A reception will follow.

Read the full story in the JUne 20, 2010 e-edition of Walworth County Sunday, PAGE 17.