AUBURN - Teams of walkers gathered Friday evening for an all-night event to raise money for cancer treatment and research.

The running track at Auburn High School was busy during Relay for Life, an event in which teams of people walk to collect money pledged for their efforts.

Lisa Gianonne, Kelley Gridley and Margaret DeNeve, the three major organizers of the 13-hour event, worked from 9 a.m. to set things up, and some teams planned to have at least one member walking the track from 6:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. Saturday.

Boy Scout Troop 21 led the pledge of

allegiance and Southern Cayuga senior Emily Aguilar sang the national anthem. Then Karen Gorsky's Armstrong School of Dance from Lansing danced to “I Run for Life,” a song written by cancer survivor Tricia Walker and played by disc jockey Jane Stebbins. Five of Stebbins' aunts and uncles died of cancer, she said.

“My mother was lucky,” Stebbins said. “When you see this,” she said, referring to the survivors' walk, “you really understand. It makes what I do for a living worthwhile #* to be able to give something back. I'm very honored to be here.”

Among the cancer survivors walking was 4-year-old Emma Wetherbee, of Auburn, perhaps the youngest. She was with her parents, Amanda and Sam, and her brother, Logan, 3.

“Emma was diagnosed on Dec. 6, 2007, with bilateral retinoblastoma,” Amanda said. “She had cancer on both retinas.” Amanda had a history of cancer in her family, both grandmothers, one who passed and the other who survived, as well as a surviving grandfather.

“As of April 30, Emma has been in remission,” she said. “She finished her last chemotherapy.” Logan had also been screened and was cancer free.

An inconclusive routine vision screening at Head Start brought Emma's cancer to light.

“When we went to the opthamologist,” Amanda said, “we found out it was large. If it had crossed through the optic nerve, it would have been much more difficult to treat. We love Head Start, ” she said. Early screening may have saved Emma's life.

Now back in pre-K class, Emma will be graduating on June 26.

After the walk, a reception dinner for the 50 attending survivors was held in the high school cafeteria.

With a goal of $75,000, 33 teams (400 participants) brought in $41,145.90. Sponsors gave $6,700 more, raising totals to $47,845.90. NUCOR had 38 people on its team, contributing about $6,200. P & C donated $500 worth of food.

Co-chair Giannone said the bulk of the money came from the teams' corporate sponsorship. In March each team signed up for $50, with a cap of 15 members. Individuals could also register for $10 each at the last minute and still receive t-shirts for participating.

“We would never refuse anyone,” Giannone said.

Ted Dykoschak signed up independently. He survived two bouts of cancer, the last one two years ago. Dykoschak's mother died of cancer. He said he survived with support from family and friends.

Camp sites inside the track's perimeter created a coziness not possible before: a greater feeling of camaraderie, Giannone said.

About 250 luminaria, decorated with names, twinkled along the track close to camp sites, open tents and sleep-in tents. On the surrounding knoll they spelled out the word “Hope.” Team captains read luminary names to soft background music at the 10 p.m. luminaria lighting ceremony.

“The most touching part was the luminaria,” Giannone said. “It was very meaningful to me and to many people touched by cancer or lighted in honor of survivors.”

Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net