Allie Montgomery, 32, is a second-generation brain cancer survivor. The Relay for Life has given her hope throughout her teens and adulthood, and Montgomery wants to share that belief in the future with other Douglas County residents.
Growing up in Topeka, Montgomery watched her father, Chris Childress, battle cancer. He joined a brain cancer support group, and the Shawnee County Relay for Life became an annual family event for the Childresses. Back then, relay participants camped overnight and teams walked from sundown until sunup — the darkness and light symbolic of the cancer journey’s ups and downs and the continuous movement a metaphor for the ongoing fight against cancer.
Montgomery, of Lawrence, viewed cancer through the lens of a caregiver in those days.
“And then in 2016, my motivation changed,” she said. ”I was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2016.”
During the last eight years, Montgomery has endured surgery to remove the initial brain tumor and five subsequent craniotomies to extract recurrent tumors. She’s also received rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. Montgomery currently receives IV immunotherapy treatment for metastases to her lymph nodes in her head and neck.
Standing alongside Montgomery as she fights cancer is her husband of nine years and high school sweetheart, Mitch. The Montgomerys are co-chairing the 2024 Douglas County Relay for Life again this year and belong to a relay fundraising team, Forty-One Ten. The team’s name was inspired by Montgomery’s paternal grandmother, Mary Anne Childress, who recently died, though not from cancer.
“Forty-One Ten comes from Isaiah 41:10, in the scripture, and it is a verse that I clung on to during this journey,” Montgomery said. “She encouraged me when I was feeling really sick those first couple years. And she said, ‘Hey, this is a Bible verse that really has helped me through troubled times, and I want to give it to you and hopefully it’s an encouragement to you as well.’”
Montgomery feels passionate about carrying on the legacy of hope that started in 1985 when Dr. Gordon “Gordy” Klatt walked and ran laps around a track in Tacoma, Washington to raise money for American Cancer Society, sponsor of the Relay for Life. Klatt raised $27,000 that first year.
The ACS’ website describes the modern Relay for Life as an experience led by volunteers that “unites communities to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost to cancer, and raise funds to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.”
The Douglas County Relay for Life’s volunteers have raised more than $119,000 this year with a goal of $170,000. Bob Silipigni, of Lawrence, surpassed the one-million-dollar all-time fundraising mark last fall and continues collecting donations with $98,500 raised to date in this year’s relay season.
The relay’s theme for 2024 is “Island Vibes, Saving Lives.” Organizers invite the public to the free event from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 31 at the track at Rock Chalk Park, 6100 Rock Chalk Drive.
Survivors’ activities include a free barbecue dinner from 6 to 7 p.m. with a survivor and caregiver lap around the track to follow. Pre-registration is preferred but not required. Registered survivors and their caregivers will receive a free shirt. Other survivors’ activities include rock painting and DIY bracelets.
Family-friendly activities include a kid zone with face painting, bouncing inflatables and twisted balloons. At 7:30 p.m. participants of all ages can blow Bubbles to Heaven, and at 8:30 p.m. Cookies Laps will take place with cookies provided by CC’s Cookie Co.
Attendees are encouraged to bring canned goods for donation to Douglas County food bank, Just Food. Donations will be used to weigh down luminaria bags dedicated in honor or in memory of loved ones touched by cancer. The luminaria ceremony begins at 9:30 p.m.
Montgomery said the lighting ceremony is emotional and gives attendees a visual representation of the people “you’re doing this for.”
“It is probably my favorite,” Montgomery said. “I think that’s just a really cool way to honor people who have fought, are fighting, won their fight, didn’t maybe. It’s incredible.”
Food sales are available from 6 to 9 p.m. Scheduled vendors include JB’s Tacos, Barbwire Barbecue, and Hazel’s Hut and Hawaiian Shave Ice. Auction items will go live Monday, May 27 and close at 9 p.m. during the relay on May 31. Hopeful bidders will need to register an account to place a bid.
Donate to the Relay for Life, form a fundraising team or sponsor a luminaria in honor or in memory of a loved one at relay.org/douglasks. See the relay’s full schedule of events at this link.
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Tricia Masenthin (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at tmasenthin (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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