Relay Participants Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back

A steady rain on Friday didn't stop volunteers from walking for loved ones and friends with cancer during the annual Trumbull-Monroe Relay for Life at Trumbull High School.

Originally planned for the football field, the Relay was moved indoors as fund raising teams gathered in the school gym for ceremonies until midnight.

This year's slogan is "Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back!" All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society.

Sharon Buzi of Trumbull, who was honorary chair for the event, lives with CML, a form of leukemia that causes high white blood cell counts. But she said she can live through it because of a medication that eats the excess white cells "like Pacman".

"Thanks to the American Cancer Society, a treatment was found for CML," Buzi said. "I'm thankful to the American Cancer Society."

Buzi's life was first affected by cancer in 2009 when she had to have a hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. Then she lost her brother-in-law Tom Buzi, who was first selectman of Monroe, to cancer.

Her first involvement with the Relay was when she started a team to honor Tom.

Sharon Buzi's medication has side effects similar to the symptoms of CML, and she said it almost made her miss this year's Relay - but Buzi said once you become involved in the Relay, the friends you make never let go of you.

"I (told people) 'I'm really sorry. I don't feel well. I can't be a team captain or chair this year,'" she said from the microphone Friday night. "They said, 'Okay, then we'll make you the honorary chair.'"

After Buzi spoke, her son Gregory sang a song upon her request.

Most people's lives have been affected by cancer in some way.

Katharine Bobel, this year's event chair, lost one grandmother to cancer, had another with breast cancer, and her father is a cancer survivor.

During the opening ceremonies, Bobel thanked fellow volunteers serving on the Relay Committee and those who formed teams for fighting "for a cause near and dear to my heart."