ELIDA — “To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true” is the fourth statement of the Optimist Creed. Perhaps nothing tests one’s resolve to live by this ideal as losing one’s mother to cancer.
Elida Middle School student Kaitlyn Saunders lost her mother, Kathy, to the disease two years ago. When she and other Junior Optimists here participated in an Elida Optimist Club essay contest, Saunders and others sparked a heartfelt response from the adult club members. One of them is Joyce Buetner, the junior club’s advisor.
“Halle Strayer presented her ‘Why me? Why not?’ speech at the Elida/Lima West Optimist’s Oratorical Contest. She spoke quietly about how her grandfather, Ron Strayer, has inspired her with his courage as she walked the audience through his struggles since his diagnosis with cancer in December. Then, Lauren Greeley spoke about her mother, Heather’s, fight with breast cancer and how it has drawn their family close to God and each other. Kaitlyn’s speech was the most solemn of all. She lost her mother, Kathy, to lung cancer two years ago and she still asks ‘Why my mother?’ as she searches for meaning in her loss,” Buetner said.
The Junior Optimist Club was especially thankful to the district’s voters, who passed a levy in March for a new high school. Buetner said it was Strayer who suggested starting a Mini-Relay for Life to bring the school and community together in an act of appreciation.
“Cancer has stricken so many people in this area, Buetner said. “No sooner had she made the suggestion, her mother shared information about the relay with Pat Komarek, an Optimist Club member, and myself.”
Administrators gave the go-ahead for the event to take place during times when class work would not be interrupted on the district’s last day of school.
Other community members were also involved, as were teachers. Teacher Brady Overholt, whose mother is currently undergoing treatment, organized the concessions table. The school’s parents organization volunteered and fundraising efforts began.
“The junior optimists sent all 550 middle school students home with pledge sheets and as of Monday, $2,800 had been collected with money still coming in,” Buetner said.
As successful as Tuesday’s mini-relay was, she says organizers are giving “serious consideration” to making the Elida Mini-Relay for Life an annual event, with funds going to the American Cancer Society via the adult relay at the Allen County Fairgrounds.