Bloomington, Illinois – June 27, 2016 – Relay For Life of McLean County wrapped up its 22nd annual event at Normal Community High School on Saturday, June 25 at 10a.m., having had team members circle the track at Ironmen Field for 18 hours, and held a 5K Run to raise money to fight cancer. There were many inspiring stories, large and small, during the event which motivated and encouraged those who participated.

TWO HEARTS, ONE TEAM: Each having been touched by cancer, Bloomington residents Michael Fitzgerald and Stephanie Moore learned and understood what it took to care for a loved one stricken by the disease. Fitzgerald, 44 and the father of two daughters now 14 and 10, lost his wife of 15 years, Elaine, to tongue and throat cancer just a few weeks before Christmas in 2014. Elaine had been diagnosed in March 2013. Moore, 38, a mother of two boys, now 11 and 7, lost her husband of almost 7 ½ years, Noah C. Moore, to colon cancer in November 2014, having battled it for a year once he had been diagnosed.

They each watched over, cared for, and aided their loved ones during their disease. They began trying to heal through their grieving by being part of a group they joined at a local church. That’s where they met and were able to share – both with the group and each other – how to survive losing a loved one. They met as part of that group in January 2015. Their bond grew so strong that they fell in love and married on April 30, 2016, blending the two families.

Then, after being asked by the organizing committee of Relay For Life of McLean County to serve as honorary caregivers for this year’s event, the couple took matters one step further when they began organizing their Relay team, named MooreFitzStrong, in honor of their loved ones.

Most Relay teams have between 12-15 individuals on a team, with at least one member or more circling the track for part of the 18-hour event. But Fitzgerald and Moore may have set a record in recruiting when they began forming their team. When the Relay began at 4p.m. Friday, MooreFitzStrong’s team roster tallied 22 people. They ranged from Fitzgerald’s daughters and Moore’s sons to co-workers of the couple and extended family members.

Among those on the team were best friends who took up the fight alongside Moore and Fitzgerald. Moore’s best friends, Brandi Storm and Erika Cheeseman, walked alongside her for part of their time on the track Friday night. “We’re here to support Stephanie and Mike in remembrance of Noah and Elaine,” Cheeseman explained.

Because of their experience, Fitzgerald and Moore were chosen as our Honorary Caregivers for this year’s event.

“As friends, we’ve seen the aftermath of what a cancer patient’s loved ones have to endure,” Storm said. “Cancer affects everybody in some sort of way. I just think the more support we have, whether directly or indirectly, will lead us to a cure so people don’t have to go through what our friends have gone through.”

“Mike and Stephanie are the base of an amazing support system,” Cheeseman said acknowledging the large number of members on their team. “The support they gave their families and each other is something for the others on the team to grow off of. Being part of this is just an amazing experience that people should come see. Storm added that, even with the number of members the team brought to the event this year, she believes the MooreFitzStrong team could become even larger by next year’s Relay event.

2nd ANNUAL 5K EVENT DRAWS PARTICIPANT BACK HOME: This year’s event again incorporated a 5K Run event held early Saturday morning with 100 runners taking part, either having pre-registered online or in person at the event.

It wasn’t just local residents who came to participate in the 5K, but out—of-towners, too, came to support the cause while feeding their passion for running. Josh Brandt, 36, a Twin City native, knowing he would be visiting family when he came to town, said he looked for 5K events on the internet before leaving his home in the Denver suburb of Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Brandt was possibly one of the first runners to complete the course, having done it in 19 minutes and three seconds. Cancer has also played a motivating factor in Brandt’s wanting to participate in the 5K, too, he said, because his mother-in-law is a breast cancer survivor. He said he has also had co-workers at the high school where he teaches English who have also survived cancer.

RELAY 2016 NUMBERS: Relay For Life of McLean County raised nearly $270,000 in 2016 and had 79 teams and 500 survivors and caregivers at their annual Relay event, held from 4p.m.June 24 to 10a.m. June 25, 2016, at Normal Community High School.

Since it began in McLean County in 1994, Relay For Life of McLean County has raised over $7.8 Million to fight cancer.

Of this year’s event, Catina Struble, Lead Co-Chair for Relay For Life of McLean County, said, “We are very pleased with the amount of money we were able to raise at this year’s event. We are equally pleased with the fact new people came to join our fight, both as part of the annual Relay and at our new 5K event. Such success can only help us continue our fight.”

SPONSORS FOR THIS YEAR’S EVENT: Sponsors have helped Relay For Life of McLean County with continuing our efforts. We are honored to have State Farm Insurance as our presenting sponsor for this year’s Relay, as we are honored to have Avanti’s Italian Restaurant and Country Financial as our Gold sponsor.

More information may be obtained by contacting either Catina Struble at 309-706-5367 or Steve Robinson at 309-242-7838.

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