Odyssey Academy Participates in 26th Annual Relay For Life

Relay for Life began in Washington State in May 1985 when a motivated surgeon, Dr. Klatt, spent 24 hours running 83 miles on a university track in Tacoma. With the help of friends and family he raised $27,000 to fight cancer. 

This is the 26^th year since Relay for Life’s inception, and the first year for Odyssey Academy to participate in Galveston. Relay For Life, a fundraising and awareness event sponsored by the American Cancer Society (ACS), now takes place all over the country.

Odyssey Academy faculty member Becky Snyder headed up the Odyssey team this year. The ACS asks every participant to raise at least $100 for the event, and Odyssey went above and beyond that cap with just 15 team members. Odyssey was able to raise over $3,000 for the event in just four short months. The team members worked hard to earn the money; from providing lunches and special treats to staff members to participating in a pancake breakfast at Chili’s.

This year’s event took place at Moody Gardens. The ACS placed a special emphasis on “having more birthdays” this year, so everyone decorated each team station with a birthday theme. Odyssey’s team, “The Rockets,” decorated with planets, stars, spaceships and even a rocket piñata in order to celebrate life and overcoming the disease.

Relay For Life is an event drenched in tradition and symbolism. During the opening ceremonies, all participating cancer survivors walk the first lap wearing the Relay’s signature purple shirt. For the second lap, their caregivers and family members join them. The Galveston walk was scheduled from 7PM-7AM. Early morning hours can hold some of the darkest and loneliest moments of the day. The impact of being on the track at that time represents how cancer survivors feel during chemotherapy. This particular time in the event is to reflect on what a person diagnosed with cancer must endure in order to come out on the other side of the disease.

As the sun rises and the sky is painted with the faintest pinks and oranges, we are presented with a symbol of hope of coming into remission, good test results, and beating cancer. By going through these phases together, all participants find strength and support, even in the darkest hour.

Relay For Life’s motto is Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back. This event has an intense focus on awareness, with various booths set up to encourage people to make healthy life choices in order to avoid the disease. The importance of sunscreen, daily exercise, and healthy eating are some of the issues addressed.

Cancer touches everyone’s life. If we create enough awareness we can fight back with lasting impact.

The members of Odyssey Academy’s Relay for Life team were: Sherry Payne, Christi Barnes, Gary Barnes, Terri Cole, Jen Goodman, Corey Greineisen, Bobby Markle, Karen Mowbray, Patti Polensky, Jen Reed, Maria Reyes, Mike Snyder, Cally Steele, Liz Steele, and Becky Snyder. Other Odyssey Academy staff members and two students also participated on a Relay team sponsored by Broadway Mobil. Those members were: Adolfo Canon, Anna Benavides, Maggie Quick, Juan Hernandez, Nancy Hames, Sandra Arita, Chris Perry, and Roman Salinas.