Cancer survivor Gloria’s message of hope
A two-time breast cancer survivor told supporters that she takes part in an annual 24-hour fundraising event to offer hope to others.
Gloria Dill was speaking as she helped launch the Liberty Special Markets Relay For Life 2020 season.
She said: “I captain a team of breast cancer survivors who, like myself, have been participating in Relay For Life Bermuda since it first began in 2014.
“I relay because it brings those of us diagnosed with cancer in one place, to help raise awareness to those in our community, to raise much needed funds to fight this disease and to bring hope to the survivors on this journey.”
Ms Dill, who is this year’s Global Hero of Hope, told a gathering at City Hall yesterday: “Survivors remember this — there isn’t anyone else that can take this journey for you.
“Your journey is one that will take courage, vulnerability and self love. Your journey is about creating a life you love to wake up to every single day.
“It’s about living in a way that you can handle whatever life throws at you. It’s about becoming you. You are not your disease, your disease is just a journey.”
Deborah Titterton Narraway, the cochairwoman of Relay for Life of Bermuda, highlighted that the launch was held on World Cancer Day.
The theme of this year’s fundraiser, scheduled for May 15 and 16, is “Life may be a twister but, sorry cancer, we’re in it to win it.”
Ms Titterton Narraway said: “We are here to serve our community and Relay For Life raises an extraordinary amount of funds.”
She explained that the money helped to pay for prevention programmes, early detection and radiation treatment.Ms Titterton Narraway, the chief marketing officer at the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, said: “Last year alone, we aided, with the help of Relay For Life, 20 individuals to go through radiation treatment.”
A “parish challenge” will be added to the luminaria element of this year’s event at the National Sports Centre.
Participants and supporters can buy and decorate a bag in honour of someone who has been affected by cancer, or simply in a show of solidarity.
They will be placed alongside the track by parish to make it easier for people to spot individual tributes.
A luminaria ceremony will be held at about 9pm on May 15 when electric candles inside the bags will create a glow as a symbol of hope and courage in the fight against cancer.
Parishes that raise the most funds and sell the most bags will be honoured on May 16.
Bags can be bought for a $10 donation at luminaria sponsors, professional services firm PwC, in Washington House, Church Street, Hamilton, or at the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre on Point Finger Road, Paget.
Steve Horton, the president of insurance and reinsurance company Liberty Speciality Markets, said the firm was “thrilled” that it had sponsored the fundraiser for another year.
He added that the launch event, which included a performance by gospel duo Last Call, had him “absolutely energised”.
Relay For Life is one of Bermuda’s biggest charity events.
Teams of ten to 15 people take turns walking around the track at the North Field of the National Sports Centre.
At least one member of the group is always on the track to represent the idea that “cancer never sleeps”.
Azuree Williams, the event cochairwoman, thanked its sponsors, which also included the Colonial Insurance Group.