Bell County Relay for Life Raises $45K for Cancer Survivors

Cancer survivors took victory laps around a livestock building in Belton, Texas, celebrating life and raising money to help their neighbors fight the disease that tried to take them down.

The Bell County Relay for Life brought together 274 cancer survivors and their teams on Saturday at the Cadence Bank Center. They'd already raised $44,757 before the event even started, putting them more than halfway to their $77,000 goal.

"All the money raised in Bell County stays in Bell County," said Doug Stephen, media co-leader for the event. That means every dollar goes directly to helping local families access cancer treatment and support services through the American Cancer Society.

Gerald Shaffer knows exactly why that matters. The Temple chief financial officer discovered blood in his urine one morning in October 2019, leading to a CT scan that found a tumor on his kidney.

Doctors removed the kidney in November 2019, and he's been cancer-free ever since. His close friend wasn't as lucky—he skipped regular scans believing his cancer was in remission, and died of stage 4 disease in June 2023.

"What value do you put on your life?" Shaffer asked participants at the relay. He now advocates for yearly CT scans as standard preventative care, believing early detection saved his life.

The 12-hour relay featured 35 teams walking, dancing, and playing games together. Between laps, participants decorated stick horses for rodeo events, took zumba and yoga classes, and watched wig demonstrations for those undergoing treatment.

Cristi Solis staffed a vendor booth honoring her husband Steven Ray, who died of cancer last October at age 64. His cancer had spread too far for treatment by the time doctors found it.

"By doing this, I feel like I'm giving back, so somebody else could have a chance to fight back," she said. "He didn't have a chance."

The Ripple Effect

The relay represents more than fundraising. It creates a community where survivors see they're not alone, caregivers find support, and families who've lost loved ones channel grief into hope for others.

Local businesses like Montgomery Chiropractic joined for their third year, offering wellness information alongside the fundraising efforts. The event included a luminary ceremony honoring those still fighting and those who've been lost, plus a special caregiver walk recognizing the unsung heroes who support patients through treatment.

Next year's relay is already accepting survivor registrations, building on this year's success to help even more Bell County families access the cancer care they need.

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