Relay for Life raises $74,195
One person’s battle with cancer became a cry for awareness at this year’s Relay for Life.
Shelby Horn, of Danville, gave his testimony on his survival of colon cancer and encouraged men to get tested for the disease.
“I had put it off for 16 years which is too long,” Horn said. “I had always said later.”
Horn went to the doctor to get tested after a discussion with his friend Lawrence about Vietnam veterans and cancer.
“I was like an ostrich,” Horn said. “I had my head in the sand for 16 years.”
After getting tested, Horn said the doctor came into the room and showed him a colored photograph. He knew then that whatever he was about to hear wasn’t good.
Horn was diagnosed with colon cancer a year ago.
“I am sure each of you here remember the day that the doctor said you had cancer,” Horn said.
Horn talked about the feeling he got when the doctor said “the cancer word.”
“It has an atomic charge to it,” Horn said. “No other word has made me feel that way.”
Horn said that he hadn’t shown any signs of the disease before going to the doctor.
“I didn’t have any symptoms what-so-ever,” Horn said. “I felt perfectly fine.”
“Having no symptoms doesn’t mean you have no cancer,” Horn said.
Since being diagnosed Horn was given a colonoscopy bag, which he has named Arnold.
“It isn’t the most pleasant friend,” Horn said.
Horn will have the bag removed this summer.
“I won’t miss Arnold a bit,” Horn said.
Horn said that ever since he was diagnosed he has encouraged others to get tested.
“The only way to know is to have an examination,” he said.
Horn was involved in an automobile accident after he was diagnosed. A truck pulled out in front of him while he was crossing an intersection. Horn got out of the car and after calming down walked straight up to him.
“I have cancer,” Horn said. “Have you had a colonoscopy?”
“I made him promise he would get one,” Horn said.
Horn no longer has the disease because he caught it early.
“I am now free of cancer,” Horn said. “I am free of it because it was detected at an early stage.”
Horn said if it weren’t for his friend Lawrence who passed away with cancer last year, he still wouldn’t have gotten tested.
“He started the process that saved my life,” Horn said. “I’d still be alive but my clock would be ticking.”
“If I hadn’t done it, things would not be better,” Horn said. “It would be worse.”
Horn talked about the importance of catching the disease early on.
“Colon cancer can be cured if it is caught early,” Horn said.
Horn emphasized the things in life that really mattered after he was diagnosed with the disease.
“All the money in the world doesn’t matter,” Horn said. “The people you care about in trying to survive matters.”
Relay for Life raised a total of $74,195.72 from Relay for Life fundraisers including a purse/cake auction the night of relay that raised $1,850.
Relay for Life also raised $390 Friday night for Sarah Irvin Gardner who is dealing with her own battle with cancer while pregnant with her first child.
By Allison Hollon
allison@accvonline.com
