Courier Lee News Service

SHEFFIELD - Three participants in this year's event hope to inspire others during Franklin County's Relay for Life.

The fundraiser for the American Cancer Society steps off Friday at the high school in Sheffield.

Jerry Rabey of Sheffield and Marge Kroon and Ricardo Parades, both of Hampton, will serve honorary roles.

All are cancer survivors.

"I just feel that when you've gone through something like this," Rabey said, "if you don't go out and share your story and help someone else who is going through cancer, you've basically just wasted everything you've gone though."

Their stories are unique, but all faced cancer with aggressive treatments.

Rabey discovered a lump in his neck in March 2006. He was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma on the back of his tongue and voice box.

His treatment included 35 units of radiation, three chemotherapy treatments and surgery to remove lymph nodes.

Biopsies came back clear.

"It was all good. I'm cancer free now," Rabey said.

On a Friday evening 33 years ago, Kroon noticed a lump on her breast. She saw a doctor the following Monday.

She insisted her doctor perform a biopsy the next day.

"My aunt had just been going through breast cancer and it reoccurred in her spine, and I saw what it did to her," Kroon said.

She found out she had a tumor, had it removed and underwent 20 units of radiation. Kroon was also put on 12 cycles of a new cancer drug. Since then she's been cancer free.

A physician discovered Parades' prostate cancer during a routine physical in 2003. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had surgery.

About a year later Parades found out he had stomach cancer.

Half of his stomach was removed, and he endured six months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Doctors later told him the cancer was spreading to his lungs and liver, and Parades had several more months of chemotherapy.

Two computed tomography scans, however, revealed the cancer has not expanded, Parades said.

Parades and his wife, Dee, tell their children and others to make yearly physicals and self examinations.

The three honorary co-chairs will promote that message during Fight Back, a new ceremony at this year's relay.

Participants will promise to battle somehow, either by getting a colonoscopy or giving someone a ride to treatment.

The Franklin County Relay for Life will begin at 6 a.m. Friday with KLMJ's golf marathon. The event will be at Ridgestone Golf Club in Sheffield.

The Franklin County Farm Bureau will serve pork loin sandwichs at 5 p.m.

The relay will include a survivors lap at 6, auctions at 8:30 and luminaria service at 10 p.m.

Franklin General Hospital will provide breakfast at 6 a.m. Saturday. Closing ceremonies will follow.

Contact Laura Andrews at laura.andrews@globegazette.com.